Cheney Stresses Need For Missile Defense

Says Next President Must Continue Push For Defense Installations In Eastern Europe

(CBS/AP)  Borrowing a theme from the presidential contest, Vice President Dick Cheney said Tuesday that the possibility of a 3 a.m. emergency call to the White House is all the more reason for the next commander in chief to follow through on President Bush's plans for a national missile defense.

"It's plain to see that the world around us gives ample reason to continue working on missile defense," Cheney told the conservative Heritage Foundation at a dinner recognizing the 25th anniversary of President Ronald Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative, a proposed network of rockets capable of shooting down incoming intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Mr. Bush has set in motion a more modest version of Reagan's original plan.

"In the ongoing political campaign, there's been discussion recently about 3 a.m. phone calls," Cheney said. "We all hope that a commander in chief never has to pick up the line and be told that a ballistic missile is headed toward the United States. In such an instance, catastrophe would be minutes away."

It was a reference to a television ad by Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton portraying her as the leader who voters want on the phone if a crisis occurs in the middle of the night, "while your children are safe and asleep." Rival Barack Obama fired back with an ad of his own, suggesting that he - not she - would have superior judgment to deal with such a call.

The "red phone" ads have become a factor in the race for the Democratic nomination.

"In 1972, nine countries had ballistic missiles," Cheney said. "Today, it is at least 27. And that includes hostile regimes that oppress their own people, seek to intimidate and dominate their neighbors and actively support terrorist groups."

In addition to potential threats from North Korea, Cheney emphasized what he said was a growing threat from both Iran and Syria.

"Tehran continues to develop technologies that could lead to its building an ICBM capable of striking the United States, perhaps as soon as late in the next decade," Cheney said. "Given all that we do (know) about the Iranian regime's hatred of America, its vow to destroy Israel and its ongoing efforts to develop the technology that could be used for a nuclear weapon, that is a danger every one of us must take seriously."

Cheney embarks Sunday on a trip to the Middle East, with stops in Oman, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank and Turkey.

As for a national missile defense system, the vice president said, "We're a lot further along than we would have been if Ronald Reagan had not set this in motion 25 years ago.

"President Reagan didn't live to see his vision fulfilled and he didn't expect to. But we're getting there," Cheney said.

The Bush administration's plans have met fierce resistance from Russia and have drawn only non-committal statements from Poland, one of two countries where the U.S. hopes to build anti-missile installments.

A White House visit by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Monday seemed to ease tension stemming from Poland's demand for military aid in exchange for allowing the U.S. missile interceptors on its soil.

But, despite Tusk's praise of Mr. Bush as a "very trustworthy" politician, the Polish leader made clear that he will be waiting to see a more concrete offer from the United States. Mr. Bush promised he would offer specifics "before my watch is over" in January.

The U.S. missile defense plans have become one of the thorniest issues in U.S.-Russian relations. Russia opposes the U.S. plan to build part of its global missile defense system so close to Russian borders, arguing that it would undermine the Russian deterrent. The Polish government argues that the security backing is necessary because Russia has threatened to aim nuclear missiles at Poland if it should allow the interceptors.

Tusk said that Mr. Bush had assured him that the United States would continue to try to persuade Russia that the missile shield was not a threat.

On a trip to Washington at the end of February, Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said he was holding out for guarantees of strict environmental controls before giving the final go ahead for U.S. plans to build an anti-missile radar base in his country, but a deal was seen as close.

[tucano2]

What Mr. Cheney really needs is what the Brits called an "Imperial Rocket".

[leftyintexas]

cheney, the other part of the dynamic duo of scum bags, needs to shut up now. He and bush are on a down hill slide that is picking up speed as they near the end of their disasterous career in politics. Nothing they say has any relation to reality. Their lies have destroyed their credibility. So just shut up cheney!

[truth832-2009]

crusherking

Give peace a chance, as John Lennon suggested. If the attitude is that we tried that already and failed...we close our mind to learning what it takes to accomplish the goal of peace.
I see that you are caught up in justifying attack and war; thus are you defending the current administration policies. Too fatalistic.

Again, GIVE PEACE A CHANCE!

[dogband]

Warmonger. Satans child, pure and simple.

[fettkonserv]

...In related News, Cheney purchases Missile Manufacturing Company. Film at 11.

Posted by veteran71 at 07:50 PM : Mar 12, 2008
Keep this one on top :)

[fettkonserv]

Cheney can go to ____. The world doesn''t need anymore missiles, just FOOD.
Hopefully this old lying sack of $hit will expire before his term is up. He makes the world a nasty place to live. Captain Jelly Bean is dead and his fantasy missile krap along with him. The world Hates Republicans read and you can hate them too!

[newz4i]

...excuse me for more than one post. My SEND button didn''t work the first time ... the second time ... the third time ... sorry.

[newz4i]

"Cheney Stresses Need For Missile Defense"

Luckily Cheney/Bush will long gone before we build a system of missiles for defense.

If these two were still in office, and a missile was fired towards Italy, together they''d answer that famous 3 o''clock call and attack a sightseeing balloon aloft in Guadalajara.

[newz4i]

"Cheney Stresses Need For Missile Defense"

Luckily Cheney/Bush will long gone before we build a system of missiles for defense.

If these two were still in office, and a missile was fired towards Italy, together they''d answer that famous 3 o''clock call and attack a sightseeing balloon aloft i

[newz4i]

"Cheney Stresses Need For Missile Defense"

Luckily Cheney/Bush will long gone before we build a system of missiles for defense.

If these two were still in office, and a missile was fired towards Italy, together they''d answer that famous 3 o''clock call and attack a sightseeing balloon aloft i

[newz4i]

"Cheney Stresses Need For Missile Defense"

Luckily Cheney/Bush will long gone before we build a system of missiles for defense.

If these two were still in office, and a missile was fired towards Italy, together they''d answer that famous 3 o''clock call and attack a sightseeing balloon aloft i

[newz4i]

"Cheney Stresses Need For Missile Defense"

Luckily Cheney/Bush will long gone before we build a system of missiles for defense.

If these two were still in office, and a missile was fired towards Italy, together they''d answer that famous 3 o''clock call and attack a sightseeing balloon aloft i

[newz4i]

"Cheney Stresses Need For Missile Defense"

Luckily Cheney/Bush will long gone before we build a system of missiles for defense.

If these two were still in office, and a missile was fired towards Italy, together they''d answer that famous 3 o''clock call and attack a sightseeing balloon aloft i

[newz4i]

"Cheney Stresses Need For Missile Defense"

Luckily Cheney/Bush will long gone before we build a system of missiles for defense.

If these two were still in office, and a missile was fired towards Italy, together they''d answer that famous 3 o''clock call and attack a sightseeing balloon aloft i

[newz4i]

"Cheney Stresses Need For Missile Defense"

Luckily Cheney/Bush will long gone before we build a system of missiles for defense.

If these two were still in office, and a missile was fired towards Italy, together they''d answer that famous 3 o''clock call and attack a sightseeing balloon aloft i

[newz4i]

"Cheney Stresses Need For Missile Defense"

Luckily Cheney/Bush will long gone before we build a system of missiles for defense.

If these two were still in office, and a missile was fired towards Italy, together they''d answer that famous 3 o''clock call and attack a sightseeing balloon aloft i

[newz4i]

"Cheney Stresses Need For Missile Defense"

Luckily Cheney/Bush will long gone before we build a system of missiles for defense.

If these two were still in office, and a missile was fired towards Italy, together they''d answer that famous 3 o''clock call and attack a sightseeing balloon aloft i

[newz4i]

"Cheney Stresses Need For Missile Defense"

Luckily Cheney/Bush will long gone before we build a system of missiles for defense.

If these two were still in office, and a missile was fired towards Italy, together they''d answer that famous 3 o''clock call and attack a sightseeing balloon aloft i

[newz4i]

"Cheney Stresses Need For Missile Defense"

Luckily Cheney/Bush will long gone before we build a system of missiles for defense.

If these two were still in office, and a missile was fired towards Italy, together they''d answer that famous 3 o''clock call and attack a sightseeing balloon aloft i

[newz4i]

"Cheney Stresses Need For Missile Defense"

Luckily Cheney/Bush will long gone before we build a system of missiles for defense.

If these two were still in office, and a missile was fired towards Italy, together they''d answer that famous 3 o''clock call and attack a sightseeing balloon aloft i