Joe Lieberman: “I would like to propose an amendment to S. 1745 in order to correct an issue with important national security…”

“I would like to propose an amendment to S. 1745 in order to correct an issue with important national security implications. Development of the corps-level surface to air theater missile defense system, called the Medium Extended Air Defense System [MEADS] is adversely affected by the current legislation. Unless the corrections, which I will describe in a moment, are made, the current provisions will likely halt the development of this important program. First, let me address the necessity for MEADS. There are currently under development a number of theater missile defense systems. However, no system, except for MEADS, protects front-line troops in the corps' maneuver area. Hence, MEADS will fulfill an existing, urgent U.S. operational requirement for a rapidly deployable, highly mobile, robust air defense system designed to protect maneuver forces and expeditionary forces of the U.S. Army and Marine Corps. Both services are in strong agreement on the need for protection against short- to medium-range ballistic missiles and the full spectrum of air-breathing threats--aircraft, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles. The urgency of the need for MEADS is testified to by the support of the Commanders-in Chief of Central Command, Atlantic Command, Korean Command and of course, the European Command/NATO.”