Obama missile plan keeps U.S. and allies vulnerable until 2018

Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system

Sen. Joh Inhofe (R-OK) discusses President Obama’s decision to scrap the U.S. Missile defense system that would place interceptor missiles in Poland, and a powerful x-band radar in the Czech Republic. In the interview with Fox News host Bill Hemmer, Senator Inhofe voices his concern that the shift will not keep the U.S. and it’s allies safe, and it undermines an agreement that the U.S. has with officials in the Czech Republic and Poland.

Senator Inhofe agress that we have technology capable of intercepting short an mid-range missiles with the THAAD, SM3 and Patriot systems, but neither protects the U.S., or it’s allies, from long-range missiles equipped with nuclear warheads that would need to be intercepted mid course. The Washington Post states “…in adopting its new course, the Obama administration has clearly bruised some of the staunchest U.S. allies in Europe while encouraging the Kremlin’s hard-liners. It needs to do more to repair that collateral damage.” Obama’s plan would leave us vulnerable until 2018, as opposed to 2013 with the current plan.

A leaked secret International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report states that Iran has “sufficient information” to build a nuclear bomb. In February, a three staged rocket was used to launch a satellite, that could also be used to house a nuclear warhead.

According to Inholfe, Obama plans to use the THAAD and SM3 programs, which were cut in his budget.