US to complete 14 Alaska missile silos
Begich says decision is welcome; Murkowski says US should have stuck with Bush plan
FAIRBANKS - The Department of Defense plans to complete all 14 of the silos housing missile interceptors at Fort Greely, home of the military's Missile Defense Complex, Alaska's two U.S. senators said.
Earlier this year, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced plans to scale back the expansion of the proposed Missile Field 2, part of the administration's efforts to scale back some missile defense programs.
During a June visit to Fort Greely, Gates said the technology hadn't proven itself and the threat from rogue states, such as North Korea, could be handled with existing interceptors.
Sen. Mark Begich, a Democrat, appealed to the Senate Armed Services Committee in June to maintain money to expand the ground-based missile defense system, saying it's not just about North Korea but also about shooting down missiles launched by Iran.
In a news release Tuesday, Begich said the plan is "a welcome decision that will decrease the risk of the ever-evolving ballistic missile threats from rogue nations by increasing capacity required to defend the United States."
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican, was less enthusiastic about the decision in an e-mailed statement to Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, noting that the completion of Missile Field 2 comes with plans to decommission another missile field at the base, about 100 miles south of Fairbanks.
"I remain unconvinced that abandonment of the Bush administration's plan, previously supported by Secretary Gates, is the right thing to do from a national security perspective," Murkowski said.
The first interceptor missiles were installed at Fort Greely in 2004. Original plans called for as many 40 interceptors to be housed in three silo fields. The missiles could be launched, with uncertain success, against a ballistic warhead streaking toward the United States.
The missile defense system at Fort Greely has been a boon to nearby Delta Junction. The state estimates the post generates roughly $65 million in annual economic activity for Interior Alaska.