FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Julie Hasquet, Press Secretary
(907) 258-9304 office
(907) 350-4846 cell
June 12, 2009

With tensions growing in both North Korea and Iran, fully funding and deploying Alaska's ground-based missile system is more important than ever, Senator Mark Begich said today following a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing focused on the missile defense system.

Top Defense Department commanders, including two generals who oversee the missile system, said the missiles at Alaska's Fort Greely help protect America from potential threats from both North Korea and Iran. Begich said that is yet one more reason why the system should be fully deployed for a total of 40 missiles in Alaska rather than the 26 the Defense Department has proposed.

"I'm still trying to understand the rationale for cutting the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system in Alaska when everybody agrees it is key to the defense of our state and our nation," Sen. Begich said. "I will continue to work to restore full funding for the system so our missile defense capabilities in Alaska can continue to meet the threats posed by nations like North Korea and Iran."

Begich once again noted the recent stepped-up missile testing by North Korea and the ability for a missile to reach Alaska. One of the witnesses, General James Cartwright, Vice Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated North Korea may only be five years away from being able to successfully launch a ballistic missile capable of reaching the United States while carrying a nuclear warhead payload.

Gen. Cartwright and other Defense officials also said the Alaska system is also designed to help protect America from warheads launched by Iran, which is currently experiencing domestic turmoil in the aftermath of their presidential election there last week.

Sen. Begich requested a side-by-side comparison from the Missile Defense Agency to better assess the cost and risk associated with not completing the fielding of the entire GMD system in Alaska. To date, the Missile Defense Agency has not been able to produce this information for members of Congress to make an informed decision on funding.

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You can view the archived webcast at
http://armed-services.senate.gov/e_witnesslist.cfm?id=3919