| (WASHINGTON) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today at a hearing cited the threat posed by Iran as one reason for opposing possible reductions in U.S. missile defense programs. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:
“Why is the U.S. prepared to trade our defenses based on the promise of potential Russian cooperation on other issues?
“A retreat on missile defense in Europe would set a dangerous precedent for similar restrictions worldwide and would ensure that the American people remain vulnerable to nuclear ambitions by others.
“This retreat from missile defense would also put our forces abroad, and critical allies such as Israel, in peril from countries such as Iran and North Korea, whose increasingly capable missiles are being prepared to carry nuclear and other unconventional weapons payloads.
“‘Arms control for arms control sake’ is what appears to be guiding these negotiations, and it simply does not work.
"We cannot and must not surrender our strategic security interests and jeopardize the welfare of strong allies such as Israel based on empty promises from Russia."
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