Opinion: Heinrichs: Protecting the Homeland

Rep. Loretta Sanchez’s Nov. 30 column on the importance of missile defense to our national security missed the mark. While the California Democrat is correct that during tough fiscal times we can’t afford everything, she criticized spending on the only missile defense system we currently have in place to defend the homeland from missile attack, the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system. Even in the direst of fiscal straits, the United States must adequately defend the homeland.

Senator Theodore “Ted” Stevens, 1923-2010

Senator Theodore “Ted” Stevens
November 18, 1923 – August 10, 2010

It is with tremendous sorrow, emptiness and breaking emotions on this day that we as Americans bear witness to the passing of a great statesman, Senator Ted Stevens.

Senator Stevens had the courage where others did not, the foresight against the majority where others dare not, and the tenacity of a skilled and determined man who came from humble American beginnings to help bring the 49th state into the Union.

Senator Stevens defended our nation with valor, wisdom and vision. He reached out to enable every part of Alaska from its native tribes, wildlife, natural resources and its people to significantly add to the fabric and strength of the American people and its culture.

Senator Stevens, with his intimidating presence and reputation of passionate deliberate confrontation on issues important to our nation and his state had a more compassionate reputation to those that knew him of deep love and respect. He enabled and led the multitudes of people he touched in so many ways throughout his 86 years in the making of today’s America.

We were fortunate to have him grace our nation, share his wisdom, use his knowledge, and live with freedom from his legacy.

For missile defense, there has been no greater legislator or representative of the American people in the history of our country. No one has done more to evolve, develop and deploy our nation’s missile defense systems; which are placed throughout the world, making our world, allies and troops safe today.

Without Senator Steven’s visionary leadership, this nation would not today have a deployed missile defense system and architecture protecting our homeland. The Missile Defense Agency would not have been formed or supported without the iron will of Senator Stevens.

From all of us that support missile defense we are eternally grateful for his legacy, leadership and determination.

God’s grace be with him, his wife Catherine, his children, his family and those that perished alongside him on the hillside in Alaska.

Rest in Peace my dear friend, for you have the unconquerable soul.

Senator Theodore “Ted” Stevens
November 18, 1923 – August 10, 2010

It is with tremendous sorrow, emptiness and breaking emotions on this day that we as Americans bear witness to the passing of a great statesman, Senator Ted Stevens.

Senator Stevens had the courage where others did not, the foresight against the majority where others dare not, and the tenacity of a skilled and determined man who came from humble American beginnings to help bring the 49th state into the Union.

Senator Stevens defended our nation with valor, wisdom and vision. He reached out to enable every part of Alaska from its native tribes, wildlife, natural resources and its people to significantly add to the fabric and strength of the American people and its culture.

Senator Stevens, with his intimidating presence and reputation of passionate deliberate confrontation on issues important to our nation and his state had a more compassionate reputation to those that knew him of deep love and respect. He enabled and led the multitudes of people he touched in so many ways throughout his 86 years in the making of today’s America.

We were fortunate to have him grace our nation, share his wisdom, use his knowledge, and live with freedom from his legacy.

For missile defense, there has been no greater legislator or representative of the American people in the history of our country. No one has done more to evolve, develop and deploy our nation’s missile defense systems; which are placed throughout the world, making our world, allies and troops safe today.

Without Senator Steven’s visionary leadership, this nation would not today have a deployed missile defense system and architecture protecting our homeland. The Missile Defense Agency would not have been formed or supported without the iron will of Senator Stevens.

From all of us that support missile defense we are eternally grateful for his legacy, leadership and determination.

God’s grace be with him, his wife Catherine, his children, his family and those that perished alongside him on the hillside in Alaska.

Rest in Peace my dear friend, for you have the unconquerable soul.

Begich Requests $9.5 Million for Kodiak Launch Complex

The Kodiak Launch Complex could be recieving almost $1o million dollars to hold it over until finding a new renter. The MDA recently declined to renew its contract with the KLC. Senator Begich was quoted as saying “We wanted to create a bridge while they investigate their sustainability options.”

More help may be on the way for the Kodiak Launch Complex in the form of federal military funding.

U.S. Sen. Mark Begich last week announced his request to authorize $9.5 million for the Narrow Cape facility. The request is an earmark inserted in the Senate’s National Defense Authorization Act.

Battle Brews on Missiles in Europe

Democrats and Republicans are conflicting on their view of President Obama’s missile defense plans. The debate over the missile defense policy is playing out as the Senate prepares to consider whether to ratify a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia.

Republicans are blasting the Obama administration’s plans to phase in a new missile defense system in Europe, saying it leaves a gap in the nation’s protective armor against Iranian missiles that could be deployable as soon as 2015.

Democrats and administration officials are firing back, saying that Obama’s new approach to missile defense is a more practical and effective improvement over Bush-era policies.

U.S. Confident it could Intercept an Iranian Missile

The Department of Defense said on Wednesday that it is “very confident” it can defend the United States against an Iran missile strike.  This comes after recent testimony made that Iran could possibly have a missile capable of striking by 2015.

The Pentagon is “very confident” that it could defend the U.S. against the threat of an Iranian ballistic missile strike, the Defense Department’s chief spokesman said Wednesday.

A recent Defense Department report to Congress concludes that Iran could develop a missile capable of striking the United States by 2015. Iran already has the largest deployed ballistic missile force in the Middle East, consisting of about 1,000 missiles capable of hitting targets up to 1,200 miles away, the report warns.

Launch Complex Loses Missile Defense

The Missile Defense Agency’s contract with Alaska Aerospace ends in August of this year which means the corporation is looking for new customers to launch missiles from its Kodiak, Alaska site.  Alaska Aerospace Corp. hopes to cover its costs with two non-MDA launches this fall to alleviate losing MDA.

The Alaska Aerospace Corporation is looking for new customers to launch rockets from its Kodiak Launch Complex as it prepares to lose business from the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, its most valuable customer.

Since 2004, the MDA has been the only customer to launch missiles from the Narrow Cape facility. In total, it has launched eight rockets from Kodiak, the majority of the facility’s 14 launches.

Once-Divisive U.S. Missile Defense System Now Widely Accepted

General James Cartwright

Missile defense has become a main stream issue that is supported by both sides of the aisle in Washington. Seventeen years after Ronald Reagan’s infamous “Star Wars” speech, missile defense has come a long way.  Today, missile defense has become an essential part of the United States and  an idea deeply entrenched in the Defense Department and championed by the Democratic Congress and White House.

Forget “Star Wars,” the futuristic, space-based missile-defense system envisioned by President Ronald Reagan in a speech 17 years ago this week.

Then, the very idea of constructing a high-tech — and highly expensive — shield against incoming Soviet intercontinental ballistic missiles plunged military strategists and politicians into a divisive debate over its feasibility.

New Missile Installed at Fort Greely

MDAA was at Fort Greely last month, on the original installation date. Due to bad weather conditions we did not get to witness the install. We did however get a rare glimpse of a missile in the silo. The above shot is of that view. Pretty impressive if we do say so ourselves.

A new missile was installed in a silo at Fort Greely last month, the 22nd interceptor at the Missile Defense Agency site outside Delta Junction.

Ralph Scott, the spokesman for Alaska Missile Defense, said the latest installation is part of an effort to steadily add missiles at the site. The Defense Department has plans to install 26 missiles at Fort Greely, with the process to be completed by October.

MDAA Alert: Put It Where The Sun Don’t Shine

Ground Based Interceptor in Silo

Dear Members and Friends,

Over the past few days, MDAA has been in Fort Greely, Alaska touring the three Ground Based Midcourse Interceptor Fields and visiting the U.S. Army Soldiers stationed here, including the 49th Battalion, 100th Missile Defense Brigade. Today the Pacific Combat Commander Admiral Bob Willard is visiting Fort Greely; Fort Greely falls under the Admiral’s Pacific Command. Fort Greely is unique in that it falls under several US Combat Commanders control; U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) headed by Gen. Gene Renuart, U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) headed by Gen. Kevin P. Chilton and Adjutant General for Alaska Gen. Tomas H Katkus.

Missile Field One and Missile Field Three, located in the center of Alaska, are currently populated with Ground-Based Interceptors (GBI) which are the only defense against long-range ballistic missile threats, particularly from North Korea, for the United States homeland. Ground-Based Interceptor missiles are, and will always remain, the last line of defense for the American Public; hopefully they will never be used. These mid-course / mid-space interceptors can engage the extremely high speeds of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs). This capability means they remain a critical part of a robust multi-layered defensive system and currently provide the last land-based layer of defense for the United States homeland. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates stated that homeland defense is the first priority of our nation’s missile defense systems in the Ballistic Missile Defense Review, released February 1st.

Senator Begich speech transcript

A couple of weeks ago Alaskan Senator Mark Begich spoke at the Heritage Foundation about Alaska’s vital role in missile defense and national security. While we already posted our notes from the event, the transcript has just come available so we thought it would be instructive to post.  The first couple paragraphs are the opening remarks of Heritage Foundation President Edwin J. Feulner and the rest is Senator Begich.  Unfortunately it doesn’t include the questions that were asked.

Read the entire transcript here.