Iran could build and set off a nuclear weapon within two to three years if it decided to pursue one, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said in a television interview aired Sunday.

“The consensus is that, if they decided to do it, it would probably take them about a year to be able to produce a bomb and then possibly another one to two years in order to put it on a deliverable vehicle of some sort in order to deliver that weapon,” Panetta said during a profile on CBS’s “60 Minutes.”

Tensions with Iran have mounted in recent months over Tehran’s threat to close the Strait of Hormuz and the killing of an Iranian nuclear scientist. Iran has said its nuclear ambitions are peaceful.

Panetta, who served as director of the Central Intelligence Agency for two-and-a-half years before heading to the Pentagon, reiterated the Obama administration’s position that it would do everything it could to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power. “If they proceed and we get intelligence that they’re proceeding with developing a nuclear weapon, then we will take whatever steps are necessary to stop it,” he said. Asked if that meant a possible military strike, he repeated a line oft-used by President Obama: “There are no options that are off the table.”

Panetta reflected on the May 2011 killing of Osama bin Laden in the interview, and said he believes government authorities in Pakistan knew about the whereabouts of the al Qaeda leader. “My personal view is that somebody somewhere probably had that knowledge,” said Panetta.

He acknowledged that he had to “stop and think” in response to a question about how many “shooting wars” the U.S. was currently engaged. “I’ll have to stop and think about that, because you know, obviously we’re going after al Qaeda, wherever they’re at,” he replied. “And clearly, we’re, we’re confronting al Qaeda in, in Pakistan. We’re confronting the nodes of al Qaeda in Yemen, in Somalia, in North Africa.” 

The secretary has been charged with reducing the Pentagon’s budget by $450 billion over a decade because of spending cuts authorized by Congress. He said he would try to do so without making “the mistakes of the past.” Republicans criticized President Clinton for slashing the military too much during the 1990s as part of a “peace dividend” after the end of the Cold War. “We’ll have to make some very tough decisions about how we do this,” Panetta said. “The last thing I want to do is to make the mistakes of the past. We still have to protect the best military in the world. We still have to have a military that protects us against a lot of threats that are out there, terrorism, Iran, North Korea, nuclear proliferation, problem of cyber attacks, rising powers like China.”

SOURCE:  The Hill

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Dear Members and Friends,

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta announced yesterday the FY2013 Defense base budget of $525 billion, as well as a plan forward to implement the congressionally mandated $487 billion cuts to the Department of Defense over the next 10 years; $259 billion will be cut in the first five years.  The base budgets for the Department of Defense for 2010, 2011, and 2012 of $533 billion, $549 billion, and $553 billion were higher than the 2013 budget of $525 billion.  The last time a U.S. defense budget declined from the previous year was in 1998. 

Earlier this month the Secretary of Defense, along with the President of the United States, developed and released a new defensive strategy for the 21st century to align with these budget reductions (Sustaining U.S. Global Leadership: Priorities for 21st Century Defense).  This strategy focuses on five elements:  A smaller military, a rebalance of our global force structure to focus on the Middle East and Far East, building partnerships and alliances to share the burden globally from rebalancing, a strong U.S. counterinsurgent force structure to defeat aggression quickly anywhere in the world, and protecting key investments in technology and new capability for the future.

In this sparse budget environment in which our nation’s resources to best defend itself are significantly changing from the past, we would hope and expect as an American public that has relied over the past 68 years on peace through American military strength, that this sudden change of direction is driven by well thought-out, long-term strategies rather than by the immediate budget environment.

This new Department of Defense strategy is deeply and fundamentally reliant on missile defense; as our force structure is withdrawn and downsized, preventing conflict and defending our assets around the globe, especially in the Middle East and Far East, is crucial and our military forces and allies will become more dependent on U.S. missile defense systems.  New and continued partnerships with our Allies around the globe in their development of their own missile defense capabilities will continue to grow and be encouraged by the United States.  Missile defense is irreversible and remains one of our nation’s key technical investments; it has put us ahead of the world in this capability and will continue to provide capacity to adapt to the future, as it has for today.

Funding is critical for missile defense; even in these 2013 defense cuts it is seen as vital and necessary.  However, this is not enough.  Missile defense needs to grow, flourish, and have enough capability to implement our nation’s new defensive strategy today, tomorrow, and in the future.

Click here for the full transcripts from the Pentagon briefing.

Respectfully,

Riki Ellison

On January 13th, 2012 MDAA was honored to host the second annual “Missile Defender of the Year Award Ceremony” in Alexandria, Virginia.  The Missile Defender of the Year is awarded to the best U.S. missile defense Solider, Sailor, and National Guardsman for the year.

These three select individuals represent the best in leadership and personal effort, demonstrating their commitment to excellence and their critical role in missile defense. They are an inspiration to their subordinates, peers, and superiors. 

The sincerity, heartfelt passion, awe of appreciation, self humility, and love of missile defense was on full display as these young men were recognized as heroes in the unsung field of their profession for all they do for our nation. 

Captain Will Andrews, Fire Controlman Second Class Petty Officer Mathieu McIntosh, and Staff Sergeant Craig Davis are three men that lead by true excellence, which is contagious to their units, teams, and commands.

2011 Missile Defenders of the Year: 

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A team leader that is so endeared by his actions and deeds that the United States three-star Army General overseeing Afghanistan looks to him for his work with the local Afghan people and the NATO and Jordanian soldiers he oversees; for what he has achieved in how to give security and leave security with the Afghans.

Captain Will Andrews, United States Army 

A native of Nampa, Idaho, Captain Will Andrews is currently attending the Maneuver Captain’s Career Course in Fort Benning, Georgia. He graduated from American Military University and was commissioned in Air Defense Artillery in 2008. Captain Andrews recently returned from a year-long deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Captain Andrews served as a Site Commander, leading a Joint Police Training and Advisory Task Force in Eastern Afghanistan. Captain Andrews’ team was recognized by Senior U.S. and NATO Commanders for developing their Afghan Police counterparts to become the first Afghan-led Training Center in the region.

Captain Andrews’ awards include the Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (with four Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Good Conduct Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terror Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Pathfinder Badge and the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge.

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A team leader so endeared to his ship that the Captain relied on his expertise and leadership on the key component, as there was no room for failure on a complete, pure Aegis BMD mission to 27 ports that has now set the standards and operations procedures; a mission that took them into the Black Sea with the Turkish Navy that ported in the Ukraine, Romania, and Israel (among others); a mission that sold missile defense to our European Allies. 

Fire Controlman Second Class Petty Officer Mathieu McIntosh, United States Navy

A native of Seoul, South Korea, Fire Controlman Second Class Petty Officer Mathieu D. McIntosh joined the Navy in 2005 and entered the Advanced Computer and Electronics Field.  After completing entry training, he attended Fire Control ‘A’ School and Spy-1B ‘C’ School, where he was an honor graduate in both courses.  From there he was assigned to the USS Monterey (CG61) in Norfolk, Va.  In the spring of 2007 Petty Officer McIntosh made Second Class his first time taking the test and quickly became the Senior SPY-1B technician and Work Center supervisor.

After finishing his second deployment on the Monterey in 2009, the ship underwent a Ballistic Missile Defense install.  With this upgrade, Petty Officer McIntosh extended his tour for two years.  During exercise Atlantic Trident 2011 the USS Monterey was the first ship to track a fired ballistic missile off the east coast and it was the first ship to deploy for Ballistic Missile Defense of Europe.  McIntosh now leads CF01 as MONTEREY executes Phase one of the President’s Phased Adaptive Approach for European Missile Defense. 

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An Army Drill Sergeant’s son who has worked his way through Iraq and Afghanistan, patrolled sub 50-degree temperatures on our missile site in Alaska, and is now one of, if not the best fire control officer presiding over 26 Ground Based Interceptors protecting the United States Homeland 24/7, 365 days of the year. 

Staff Sergeant Craig Davis, Army National Guard

A native of Sullivan, Illinois, SSG Craig Davis has truly distinguished himself as a critical contributor to the defense of the Homeland from ballistic missile attack.  SSG Davis began as a Military Policeman serving at Fort Greely, AK in Alpha Company, 49th Missile Defense Battalion securing critical assets.  SSG Davis served as both a team and squad leader within Alpha Company and significantly contributed to both the successful execution of the site defense mission and the professional development of soldiers assigned to him.   

SSG Davis attended and graduated from the GMD Operator course in 2008 and began a transition from Military Police to becoming an Air and Missile Defender.  SSG Davis was assigned as a Fire Direction Center as a Weapons Operator.  He is responsible for training numerous crewmembers in preparation for demanding individual and crew evaluations.  SSG Davis and his crew have maintained an average evaluation score of 98%, on both written and practical certification evaluations.  His dedication and expertise was recognized when he was made the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of the Fire Direction Center.

These three outstanding young men represent their unit or ship as extensions of all those that they work with and the missile defense systems they operate. They represent the best of the military’s current and future missile defense capability to make our nation and world safer.
 

We commend their role and those of our military war fighters who bring these missile defense systems to life to operate, command, defend and protect against the growing and current threats of nuclear proliferation and ballistic missiles.

Their future is our future as a nation, a military, and a missile defender; upon their shoulders lay responsibilities that match expectations to achieve much more greatness than what they are recognized for this past year.
 

Yet their climb to this level is and always will be upon their teammates, battle buddies, shipmates, parents and, most importantly, their partners in life-their three wives.
 

We honored these men with affection and tribute for what they have done and also for what they are about to do. 

My Best,

Riki Ellison

Dear Members and Friends,

Yesterday President Obama, along with Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey, held a briefing at the Pentagon to lay out a new military strategy.  The plan, entitled “Sustaining U.S. Global Leadership:  Priorities for 21st Century Defense”, offers a vision for American military strategy through 2020 and emphasizes the need for a strong missile defense:

“Our defense efforts in the Middle East will be aimed at countering violent extremists and destabilizing threats, as well as upholding our commitment to allies and partner states. Of particular concern are the proliferation of ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction (WMD). U.S. policy will emphasize Gulf security, in collaboration with Gulf Cooperation Council countries when appropriate, to prevent Iran’s development of a nuclear weapon capability and counter its destabilizing policies. The United States will do this while standing up for Israel’s security and a comprehensive Middle East peace.To support these objectives, the United States will continue to place a premium on U.S. and allied military presence in.- and support of – partner nations in and around this region…”

“U.S. forces will continue to defend U.S. territory from direct attack by state and non-state actors. We will also come to the assistance of domestic civil authorities in the event such defense fails or in case of natural disasters, potentially in response to a very significant or even catastrophic event. Homeland defense and support to civil authorities require strong, steady, state force readiness, to include a robust missile defense capability. Threats to the homeland may be highest when U.S. forces are engaged in conflict with an adversary abroad.”

This new defense strategy highlights the importance of maintaining a robust and advanced missile defense and shows that missile defense programs and funding will be an integral part of future military policy.

Click here for a link to the full text of the document.

Respectfully,

Riki Ellison

Dear Members and Friends,

As the new year of 2012 begins and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta moves forward in downsizing the Department of Defense’s budget for 2013, Iran recently demonstrated its military capabilities, showing a direct threat to the U.S. 5th Fleet deployed in and out of Bahrain.  In a 10-day Naval exercise concluded today and intended to demonstrate Iranian control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, Iran successfully fired three missiles.  On Sunday, Iran test-fired an anti-radar, mid-range surface-to-air Mehrab missile during Naval drills in its Southern waters.  Yesterday Iran fired the shore-to-sea Qader missile, with a range of about 125 miles, and the surface-to-surface Nour missile, which has been upgraded from previous generations.
From the Iranian perspective, in protection of their nuclear quest, this demonstration is an attempt to deter a potential pre-emptive strike from Israel and reaction from the United States as well as to show Iranian resolve and strength to its neighbors and the West.

Maintaining ample and effective deployed U.S. and Allied ballistic missile defense and cruise missile defense capabilities in the Persian Gulf region and in the United States 5th Fleet is paramount to keeping peace and stability in this region.  Missile defense systems in the Persian Gulf counter Iran’s military capability and its threats to the region while ensuring offensive capability to strike back.

Today, the United States has limited capability on its Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) ships deployed to the 5th Fleet; more inventory of anti cruise and anti ballistic missiles are needed, as well as upgrades to these Aegis BMD Ships.  It is critical that the U.S. Navy is given all it requires to sustain stability in this highly volatile region to ensure freedom of international waters, the safety of all our troops stationed in the Persian Gulf, and to prevent escalation in regions like this and Korea into a major war.

It is important to note, as allies in the Middle East are sharing the missile defense financial burden, that last week the Department of Defense awarded the sale of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system with AN/TPY -2 Radars and 96 missiles to the United Arab Emirates.

Funding and support for missile defense by putting more capability into our war fighters’ and allies’ hands must continue and be increased in 2013, as the price for peace far outweighs the cost of war.

Respectfully,

Riki Ellison

The Obama administration will sell a $3.5 billion in missile defense systems to the United Arab Emirates, the Defense Department announced.

The UAE will buy two Terminal High Altitude Area Defense batteries, 96 missiles and spare parts for 30 years of spare parts.

“Acquisition of this critical defense system will bolster the UAE’s air and missile defense capability and enhance the already robust ballistic missile defense cooperation between the United States and the UAE,” said George Little, a Pentagon spokesperson. “This sale is an important step in improving the region’s security through a regional missile defense architecture.”

The deal was struck Christmas Day, but was announced Friday.

Lockheed Martin will build the THAAD missile system for the UAE at plants in Alabama and Arkansas. 

“Lockheed Martin is pleased the U.S. Government and the United Arab Emirates have reached an agreement on a path forward for the first Foreign Military Sale of the THAAD Weapon System,” Tom McGrath of Lockheed said in a statement.

In November, the administration announced another potential weapons deal with the UAE that included bunker-buster bombs.

On Thursday, the U.S. said it would sell a $29.4 billion weapons package to Saudi Arabia, which included 84 F-15 jets.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia are U.S. allies in the Middle East and are seen as bulwarks to the growing power of Iran.

SOURCE:  The Hill

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The Boeing Co. has been awarded a seven-year, $3.5 billion contract to continue development and operations of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s ground-based midcourse defense system, including the interceptor missile field at Fort Greely in Alaska, the Defense Department announced Friday.

The new contract, in the works for two years, extends Boeing’s connection to the nation’s missile-defense system, where it’s been a prime contractor since 2001. Northrop Grumman Corp. will share part of the Boeing contract as its partner overseeing ground-system elements and providing support in engineering and testing.

Boeing Strategic Missile & Defense Systems spokeswoman Jessica Carlton said Boeing has 80 employees based at Fort Greely, while Northrop has 30. Most of Boeing’s missile division employees are based in Huntsville, Ala., she said.

More than 20 operational interceptor missiles are kept in silos at Fort Greely and Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The system is designed to defend the United States and Canada against a small-scale missile attack from a place like North Korea, not the kind of massive strike that could emanate from Russia. Critics have said the system is a waste of money because of the difficulty in shooting down a ballistic missile, but advocates say that the most recent tests demonstrate the interceptors can hit their targets in space.

Ground-based midcourse defense is one of a number of experimental and developing components of a broad missile-defense network. Ground-based means the interceptors are stationed on land, and midcourse means the enemy warheads are targeted while they are midway to their targets, usually in near space. The system uses radars, satellites and other sensors, communications terminals and a 20,000-mile fiber-optic communications network to help determine whether interceptors should be launched and to quickly set their targets.

Other missile-defense systems would be based on ships, aircraft and in space, and could attack enemy missiles at launch or as they approach their targets.

SOURCE:  The Anchorage Daily News

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Dear Members and Friends,

Stability in the Korean Peninsula region is of paramount concern to our nation’s national security as well as the security of South Korea, Japan, China, and other Pacific Rim countries, as a successful and peaceful transition will hopefully take place in North Korea.  Kim Jong-Il, the “Supreme Leader” of North Korea who from western perspective displayed irrational behavior and reasoning over his 17 years of rule, died earlier this week.  During Kim Jong -Il’s reign, North Korea developed multiple nuclear weapons, thousands of ballistic missiles and tested ballistic missiles of short, medium and long range capabilities that were used to threaten and extract concessions from not only regional neighboring countries, but from the United States of America.     

This week Allied and U.S. military forces have been put on high alert to secure, defend and protect their populations and forces, as well as show strength to the transitional leadership in North Korea, that their possible use or threat of military power will be deterred and defended against.  North Korea is moving forward this week through its most challenging days of its history, with an internal North Korean leadership that seeks to show strength and stability to the outside world and its enemies who may view this as a time of North Korean weakness to seek influence and change.  This dangerous, tight-rope path of North Korean transition must be stabilized and be especially sensitive to the new nuclear power status and irrational history of North Korea.  This should not be mistaken as potentially the will of one individual, Kim Jong Un, “The Great Successor” the son of Kim Jong-Il, as there are many influencers inside and outside the government of North Korea that are in power and seek a stable transition and future.  The United States, China, and allies in the region should do everything possible to allow those voices of reasoning and stability to come forth and succeed.

To these objectives of stability in the Korean region, we as a nation are extremely grateful for the leadership of our military and our U.S. presidents over time that have taken the initiative to develop and deploy a robust, layered missile defense system, which today is in place creating real stability through deterrence and defense in the area around North Korea and as far reaching as Hawaii, Alaska and our homeland.  The cost of not having these missile defense systems in place today is “priceless” in the lives of our Allies, friends, and military forces deployed.

The missile defense systems responsible for the security, stability, and peace during this transitional period of North Korea are as follows:

• United States Ground Based Missile Defense system deployed in Alaska and California and commanded in Colorado by the 100th Missile Defense Brigade
• Early Warning Radars and Sensors based in Japan, Alaska, California, and on Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) ships, as well as the Sea Based X Band Radar.
• Space sensors operated by the U.S. Air Force in Colorado
• U.S. Navy Aegis BMD ships with SM-3 1A missiles deployed  in the seas around Korea and Japan commanded by the  U.S. Pacific Fleet
• Japanese Congo Class Aegis BMD ships with SM-3 1A missiles in seas around Japan
• U.S. Patriot Batteries deployed in Korea and Japan commanded by the U.S. Army 94th Air and Missile Defense Command
• Korean Patriot Batteries deployed in Korea
• Japanese Patriot Batteries deployed in Japan

On behalf of the American public, our Allies and friends throughout the Pacific region, great gratitude goes out to the men and women who serve on all of these missile defense systems that are keeping our world safe during this challenging time.

Displaying strength without provocation is what missile defense does uniquely, above and beyond what any offensive military system can provide in these volatile times of transition.

Missile defense systems are vital, and this transition in North Korea further validates the current and future need and requirements for missile defense in a world that continues to evolve.

Respectfully,

Riki Ellison

President Obama is consulting with allies following the death of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il, whose reported weekend heart attack has catapulted son Kim Jong Un to power and could further destabilize the world’s most isolated nation.

North Korea test-fired two short-range missiles off its east coast on Monday, the same day it announced the death of leader Kim Jong-Il, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said.

The agency quoted an unnamed government official as saying the launches were unrelated to the announcement that Kim had died Saturday of a heart attack.

“The missiles are estimated to have a range of about 120 kilometres (72 miles),” the official said on condition of anonymity.

“We believe the North test-fired the missiles to try to improve their capabilities and range. We don’t see this as more than test-firing.”

Seoul’s defence ministry declined to confirm the reported launches.

North Korea has been testing its new KN-06 missile, a modified version of the KN-01 and KN-02 ground-to-ground missiles, Yonhap said.

The communist country has frequently conducted short-range missile tests in recent years. South Korean officials say they are part of routine exercises but the tests are sometimes timed to coincide with periods of tension.

South Korea put its military on alert as the North’s state television announced at noon that the 69-year-old leader had died.

SOURCE:  AFP

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