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McKeon Questions Administration Decision to Scrap U.S. Missile Defense System in Europe
Calls Move an “Empowering Moment” for Russia and Iran
Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Congressman Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA), the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, today released the following statement questioning the Obama Administration’s decision to cancel plans to build key U.S. national missile defense capabilities in Europe:
“The Administration apparently has decided to empower Russia and Iran at the expense of the national security interests of the United States and our allies in Europe. Just this past April while in Prague, the President reiterated his support for U.S. missile defenses in Europe as long as missile threats persist.
“The Administration now claims that the threat from Iran, specifically, has been ‘downgraded.’ The timing of this intelligence assessment is interesting. We hope, and will request, that the Administration appear before the House Armed Services Committee to explain the rationale behind this decision, complete with the requisite intelligence estimates.
“It’s also worth noting that it appears the United States didn’t get any security concessions in return from the Russians. It’s troubling that we would negotiate against ourselves on something as important as the security of the United States and our allies.”