Missile Defense: NATO Gives Green Light

Good news today from Bush's NATO trip.

Now, I rag on Euroweenies as much as the next guy, but basing some missile defense assets there is not yet another military welfare program for our often ungrateful allies. Indeed, enhancing and strengthening continental US (CONUS) missile defense is the priority here. Shielding our European allies is gravy.

Here's a diagram from a highly informative, unclassified Missile Defense Agency report (PDF here) on European missile defense assets (disclosure: I am an MDA contractor):

Just as Alaska is our picket for potential North Korean ICBMs, Europe is our first line of defense against Iranian ballistic missiles. Every incoming ICBM out there does not come streaking over the pole a la the movie War Games:

So, while current Iranian Shahab-3's can only reach Europe, it is squarely in our interest to prepare for any future range breakthroughs by our pals the mullahs. Given the rapid pace of ballistic missile technology proliferation, today is a good day to start.

UPDATE: Welcome, HotAir --- if you arrived here from somewhere else, be sure to check out Ed's take on how this news affects Obama. Thanks for the link, Ace. And he's right, you lurking foreign intel guys; all of the above is malarkey --- carry on, nothing to see here.

UPDATE: Uncorrelated describes the trap the Dems face. 

Comments

[EC]

Cuffy,

When are you guys going to make that shield technology that protected the motherships in Independence Day? That would be fucking sweet!

Get on it! Chop chop!

[Cuffy Meigs]

No can do, EC. That system is too easily hacked with a virus uploaded by a Mac.

[Mick Stockinger]

I've accepted your invitation to visit--very good technical background stuff. I'm going to link to this from today's post.

[Cuffy Meigs]

Thanks, Mick. I'll link back as well.