Joint Statement on the U.S. and Poland Bilateral Strategic Dialogue

The United States and Poland have agreed to re-introduce the bilateral Strategic Dialogue.  This dialogue serves as a step towards continued international cooperation between the two countries. The dialogue specifically is a forum for  to discuss issues of mutual importance.

Today the Governments of the United States and the Republic of Poland have agreed to re-launch our bilateral Strategic Dialogue, a forum for consultation and cooperation on global and regional issues of mutual interest to both our countries.

Clinton Warns Iran, Syria on Threats to Israel

Secretary of State Clinton

Thursday, Secretary of State Clinton warned Iran and Syria that the United States is committed to support Israel’s security.  She said Syrian transfers of weaponry including rockets to southern Lebanon and Gaza could spark new conflict in the Middle East. She called these threats “real” and stated that “they must be addressed.”

The Obama administration Thursday warned Iran and Syria that America’s commitment to Israel’s security is unshakable and that they should understand the consequences of threats to the Jewish state.

In a speech, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Syrian transfers of increasingly sophisticated weaponry including rockets to militants in southern Lebanon and Gaza could spark new conflict in the Middle East. And she said a nuclear-armed Iran would profoundly destabilize the region.

U.N. Chief Seeks to Strengthen Nuclear Pact

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced on Wednesday that he is calling for disarmament and for the Middle East to be free of nuclear weapons.  This announcement comes because of the recent international treaty which will be discussed Monday at an international conference.

With the international treaty seeking to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons already wobbly, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday called for it to be buttressed with renewed commitments toward disarmament and for tackling the knotty issue of a Middle East free of nuclear weapons.

China Gains Influence in Korean Affairs as North and South Warily Seek Its Help

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak will travel to China under growing pressure at home to make the case for tough international sanctions against North Korea. China, which supplies an estimated 70 percent of North Korea’s trade, is the one country that can provide the necessary economic pressure to push the isolated North to the brink of collapse — or, as many hope, press it to agree to concessions over its nuclear weapons program.

On Friday, President Lee Myung-bak will travel to China under growing pressure at home to make the case for crucial Chinese support for tough international sanctions against North Korea if, as is widely expected, the North is found responsible for the sinking of a South Korean ship. But he is unlikely to win that support, experts say, a reflection of China’s growing role in the Korean Peninsula.

AML Delivers Hardware for Patriot Upgrade

The first hardware components of an anti-ballistic missile technology upgrade solution have been delivered by U.S. defense contractor AML Communications.

MDAA Alert: Oklahoma Pride

Air Defense Soldiers with Riki Ellison

In front of Patriot Missile Defense Systems

Ft. Sill, Oklahoma

Dear Members and Friends,

Last week MDAA had the honor to visit and interact with our nation’s men and women in uniform at Fort Sill, Oklahoma; home of the U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery (ADA) School. This school teaches all current and soon to be deployed air defense soldiers who are stationed with the 13 Patriot battalions deployed in support of U.S. missile and air defense throughout the world; most prominently in the Middle East and East Asia. Fort Sill runs courses for Patriot operators and maintenance crews ranging in length from 8 to 30 weeks. The ADA school trains approximately 1,500 to 2,000 U.S. soldiers a year, as well as several hundred soldiers from Israel, Germany, Japan, South Korea, United Arab Emirates and other allied nations that have Patriot Air and Missile Defense Systems.

U.S., Israel says Syria Arming Hezbollah with Missiles

Tuesday, United States and Israeli defense officials accused Syria of arming Hezbollah with missiles in Lebanon.  “We are at a point now where Hezbollah has far more rockets and missiles than most governments in the world,” Secretary of Defense Gates said, noting that Washington was following the matter closely.

U.S. and Israeli defense ministers accused Syria on Tuesday of arming Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas with increasingly powerful missiles, but Israel said it did not intend to provoke a conflict over the buildup.

The comments by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Israel’s Ehud Barak stopped short of identifying what type of missiles were being supplied to Hezbollah, after reports that the group had obtained long-range Scud missiles capable of hitting targets across the Jewish state.

‘Stray South Korean Mine Could Not Have Sunk Warship’

South Korean officials said on Wednesday that a mine could not have sunk one of the country’s warships.  This release increases suspicion that North Korea is responsible for the sinking on March 26^th.

A stray South Korean mine could not have sunk one of the country’s warships, the defense ministry said Wednesday, in comments likely to heighten suspicions that North Korea was to blame.

“Its technically not possible,” said spokesman Won Tae-Jae, dismissing suggestions that a South Korean mine planted in the Yellow Sea in the 1970s might have blown the corvette apart.

Gates Satisfied with Planning to Counter Iran Threat

Secretary of Defense Gates

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Tuesday he was satisfied with Pentagon planning to counter the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear program.

“I’m very satisfied with the planning process both within this building and in the inter-agency. We spend a lot of time on Iran and we’ll continue to do so,” Gates told reporters at a press conference with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

Missile System Enters Design Phase

Northrop Gumman has announced its Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System is ready for design phase.  This system is critical to the United States Army’s air and missile defense programs.

The U.S. Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System is ready to enter the design phase, developer Northrop Grumman announced.

Northrop Grumman announced that it completed the design review for the defense system, IBCS, paving the way for the design phase of the program.