| (WASHINGTON) - U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today criticized the Administration’s reported decision to abandon plans to establish a missile defense shield in Europe. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:
“The reported decision to scrap missile defense for Europe sounds dangerously like a policy of appeasement.
“This is yet another misguided decision – based on a misguided assessment of the Iranian missile threat – that will only serve to increase our vulnerability and that of our allies, while emboldening our enemies.
“We have set a dangerous precedent, telegraphing to the Russian Federation, Iran, and others, that the U.S. is no longer willing to stand up for core principles or defend vital security interests.
“As Russia intensifies its efforts to block crippling sanctions against the Iranian regime for its nuclear weapons program, it is deeply troubling that the U.S. has chosen to reward the Russian Federation by surrendering missile defense priorities.”
Background: In June of this year, Ros-Lehtinen introduced a resolution urging the President to expedite the deployment of components of a U.S. missile defense system in Europe. The resolution also requests that the President report to Congress on steps taken to move forward with such deployment, and states that the U.S. shall continue its support for the missile defense of key allies against attacks by rogue regimes. The resolution currently has 39 co-sponsors.
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