Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE96890
2009-09-17 20:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

PUBLIC AFFAIRS GUIDANCE: POTUS EUROPEAN-BASED MISSILE DEFENSE DECISION (PART ONE OF TWO PARTS)

Tags:  MARR EZ PREL 
pdf how-to read a cable
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FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 STATE 096890 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR PRELEZ
SUBJECT: PUBLIC AFFAIRS GUIDANCE: POTUS EUROPEAN-BASED
MISSILE DEFENSE DECISION (PART ONE OF TWO PARTS)

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 STATE 096890

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR PRELEZ
SUBJECT: PUBLIC AFFAIRS GUIDANCE: POTUS EUROPEAN-BASED
MISSILE DEFENSE DECISION (PART ONE OF TWO PARTS)


1. (U) This is an ACTION REQUEST. Please see paragraph

3.


2. (SBU) BACKGROUND: The White House announced a
Presidential decision on September 17 regarding a U.S.
European-based BMD adaptive regional architecture, which
is significantly different from the Bush Administration's
plan to deploy 10 ground-based interceptors in Poland and
a BMD tracking radar in the Czech Republic. END
BACKGROUND.


3. (U) ACTION REQUEST: All Posts, as they determine
appropriate, may draw upon the Fact Sheet in paragraph 4
and the Presidential Statement of September 17, 2009, in
paragraph 5 for public affairs/diplomacy purposes. Part
Two of this Public Affairs Guidance contains Questions and
Answers septel. END ACTION REQUEST.


4. (U) BEGIN TEXT OF FACT SHEET (FACT SHEET CAN BE FOUND
AT WWW.WHITEHOUSE.GOV):

Fact Sheet on U.S. Missile Defense Policy -
A "Phased, Adaptive Approach" for Missile Defense in
Europe

President Obama has approved the recommendation of
Secretary of Defense Gates and the Joint Chiefs of Staff
for a phased, adaptive approach for missile defense in
Europe. This approach is based on an assessment of the
Iranian missile threat, and a commitment to deploy
technology that is proven, cost-effective, and adaptable
to an evolving security environment.

Starting around 2011, this missile defense architecture
will feature deployments of increasingly-capable sea- and
land-based missile interceptors, primarily upgraded
versions of the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3),and a range of
sensors in Europe to defend against the growing ballistic
missile threat from Iran. This phased approach develops
the capability to augment our current protection of the
U.S. homeland against long-range ballistic missile
threats, and to offer more effective defenses against more
near-term ballistic missile threats. The plan provides
for the defense of U.S. deployed forces, their families,
and our Allies in Europe sooner and more comprehensively
than the previous program, and involves more flexible and
survivable systems.

The Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff
recommended to the President that he revise the previous
Administration's 2007 plan for missile defense in Europe
as part of an ongoing comprehensive review of our missile
defenses mandated by Congress. Two major developments led
to this unanimous recommended change:

- New Threat Assessment: The intelligence community now
assesses that the threat from Iran's short- and
medium-range ballistic missiles is developing more rapidly
than previously projected, while the threat of potential
Iranian intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)
capabilities has been slower to develop than previously
estimated. In the near-term, the greatest missile threats
from Iran will be to U.S. Allies and partners, as well as
to U.S. deployed personnel - military and civilian - and
their accompanying families in the Middle East and in
Europe.

- Advances in Capabilities and Technologies: Over the
past several years, U.S. missile defense capabilities and
technologies have advanced significantly. We expect this
trend to continue. Improved interceptor capabilities,
such as advanced versions of the SM-3, offer a more
flexible, capable, and cost-effective architecture.
Improved sensor technologies offer a variety of options to
detect and track enemy missiles.

These changes in the threat as well as our capabilities
and technologies underscore the need for an adaptable
architecture. This architecture is responsive to the
current threat, but could also incorporate relevant
technologies quickly and cost-effectively to respond to
evolving threats. Accordingly, the Department of Defense
has developed a four-phased, adaptive approach for missile

STATE 00096890 002 OF 004


defense in Europe. While further advances of technology
or future changes in the threat could modify the details
or timing of later phases, current plans call for the
following:

- Phase One (in the 2011 timeframe) - Deploy current and
proven missile defense systems available in the next two
years, including the sea-based Aegis Weapon System, the
SM-3 interceptor (Block IA),and sensors such as the
forward-based Army Navy/Transportable Radar Surveillance
system (AN/TPY-2),to address regional ballistic missile
threats to Europe and our deployed personnel and their
families;

- Phase Two (in the 2015 timeframe) - After appropriate
testing, deploy a more capable version of the SM-3
interceptor (Block IB) in both sea- and land-based
configurations, and more advanced sensors, to expand the
defended area against short- and medium-range missile
threats;

- Phase Three (in the 2018 timeframe) - After development
and testing are complete, deploy the more advanced SM-3
Block IIA variant currently under development, to counter
short-, medium-, and intermediate-range missile threats;
and
- Phase Four (in the 2020 timeframe) - After development
and testing are complete, deploy the SM-3 Block IIB to
help better cope with medium- and intermediate-range
missiles and the potential future ICBM threat to the
United States.

Throughout all four phases, the United States also will be
testing and updating a range of approaches for improving
our sensors for missile defense. The new distributed
interceptor and sensor architecture also does not require
a single, large, fixed European radar that was to be
located in the Czech Republic; this approach also uses
different interceptor technology than the previous
program, removing the need for a single field of 10
ground-based interceptors in Poland. Therefore, the
Secretary of Defense recommended that the United States no
longer plan to move forward with that architecture.

The Czech Republic and Poland, as close, strategic and
steadfast Allies of the United States, will be central to
our continued consultations with NATO Allies on our
defense against the growing ballistic missile threat.

The phased, adaptive approach for missile defense in
Europe:

- Sustains U.S. homeland defense against long-range
ballistic missile threats. The deployment of an advanced
version of the SM-3 interceptor in Phase Four of the
approach would augment existing ground-based interceptors
located in Alaska and California, which provide for the
defense of the homeland against a potential ICBM threat.

- Speeds protection of U.S. deployed forces, civilian
personnel, and their accompanying families against the
near-term missile threat from Iran. We would deploy
current and proven technology by roughly 2011 - about six
or seven years earlier than the previous plan - to help
defend the regions in Europe most vulnerable to the
Iranian short- and medium-range ballistic missile threat.

- Ensures and enhances the protection of the territory and
populations of all NATO Allies, in concert with their
missile defense capabilities, against the current and
growing ballistic missile threat. Starting in 2011, the
phased, adaptive approach would systematically increase
the defended area as the threat is expected to grow. In
the 2018 timeframe, all of Europe could be protected by
our collective missile defense architecture.

- Deploys proven capabilities and technologies to meet
current threats. SM-3 (Block 1A) interceptors are
deployed on Aegis ships today, and more advanced versions
are in various stages of development. Over the past four
years, we have conducted a number of tests of the SM-3 IA,
and it was the interceptor used in the successful
engagement of a decaying satellite in February 2008.
Testing in 2008 showed that the sensors we plan to field
bring significant capabilities to the architecture, and
additional, planned research and development over the next
few years offers the potential for more diverse and more
capable sensors.

STATE 00096890 003 OF 004



- Provides flexibility to upgrade and adjust the
architecture, and to do so in a cost-effective manner, as
the threat evolves. Because of the lower per-interceptor
costs and mobility of key elements of the architecture, we
will be better postured to adapt this set of defenses to
any changes in the threat.

We will work with our Allies to integrate this
architecture with NATO members' missile defense
capabilities, as well as with the emerging NATO command
and control network that is under development. One
benefit of the phased, adaptive approach is that there is
a high degree of flexibility - in addition to sea-based
assets, there are many potential locations for the
architecture's land-based elements, some of which will be
re-locatable. We plan to deploy elements in northern and
southern Europe and will be consulting closely at NATO
with Allies on the specific deployment options.

We also welcome Russian cooperation to bring its missile
defense capabilities into a broader defense of our common
strategic interests. We have repeatedly made clear to
Russia that missile defense in Europe poses no threat to
its strategic deterrent. Rather, the purpose is to
strengthen defenses against the growing Iranian missile
threat. There is no substitute for Iran complying with
its international obligations regarding its nuclear
program. But ballistic missile defenses will address the
threat from Iran's ballistic missile programs, and
diminish the coercive influence that Iran hopes to gain by
continuing to develop these destabilizing capabilities.

Through the on-going Department of Defense ballistic
missile defense review, the Secretary of Defense and the
Joint Chiefs of Staff will continue to provide
recommendations to the President that address other
aspects of our ballistic missile defense capabilities and
posture around the world.

END TEXT OF FACT SHEET.



5. (U) BEGIN TEXT OF PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT (STATEMENT CAN
BE FOUND AT WWW.WHITEHOUSE.GOV):

Remarks of President Obama
Strengthening Missile Defense in Europe
Washington, D.C.
September 17, 2009

Good morning. As Commander-in-Chief, I am committed to
doing everything in my power to advance our national
security. That includes strengthening our defenses against
any and all threats to our people, our troops, and our
friends and Allies around the world.

One of those threats is the danger posed by ballistic
missiles. As I said during the campaign, President Bush
was right that Iran's ballistic missile program posed a
significant threat.
That is why I am committed to deploying strong missile
defense systems which are adaptable to the threats of the
21st century. The best way to responsibly advance our
security - and the security of our Allies - is to deploy a
missile defense system that best responds to the threats
that we face, and that utilizes technology that is both
proven and cost-effective.

In keeping with that commitment and a
congressionally-mandated review, I ordered a comprehensive
assessment of our missile defense program in Europe. And
after an extensive process, I have approved the unanimous
recommendations of my Secretary of Defense and the Joint
Chiefs of Staff to strengthen America's defenses against
ballistic missile attack. This new approach will provide
capabilities sooner, build on proven systems, and offer
greater defenses against the threat of missile attack than
the 2007 European Missile Defense program.

This decision was guided by two principal factors.

First, we have updated our intelligence assessment of
Iran's missile programs, which emphasizes the threat posed
by Iran's short and medium range missiles which are
capable of reaching Europe. There is no substitute for
Iran complying with its international obligations
regarding its nuclear program, and we - along with our

STATE 00096890 004 OF 004


allies and partners - will continue to pursue strong
diplomacy to ensure that Iran lives up to its
international obligations. But this new ballistic missile
defense program will best address the threat posed by
Iran's ongoing ballistic missile programs.

Second, we have made specific and proven advances in our
missile defense technology, particularly with regard to
land and sea-based interceptors, and the sensors that
support them.
Our new approach will therefore deploy technologies that
are proven and cost-effective, and that counter the
current threat - and do so sooner than the previous
program. Because our approach will be phased and adaptive,
we will retain the flexibility to adjust and enhance our
defenses as the threat and technology continue to evolve.

To put it simply: our new missile defense architecture in
Europe will provide a stronger, smarter, and swifter
defense of American forces, and America's allies. It is
more comprehensive than our previous program. It deploys
capabilities that are proven and cost-effective. And it
sustains and builds upon our commitment to protect the
U.S. homeland against long-range ballistic missile
threats. And it ensures and enhances the protection of all
of our NATO allies.

This approach is also consistent with NATO's missile
defense efforts, and provides opportunities for enhanced
international collaboration going forward. We will
continue to work cooperatively with our close friends and
allies - the Czech Republic and Poland - who had agreed to
host elements of the previous programs. I have spoken to
the Prime Minister of both the Czech Republic and Poland
about this decision, and reaffirmed our deep and close
ties. Together, we are committed to a broad range of
cooperative efforts to strengthen our collective defense,
and we are bound by the solemn commitment of NATO's
Article 5 that an attack on one is an attack on all.

We have also repeatedly made clear to Russia that its
concerns about our previous missile defense program were
entirely unfounded. Our clear and consistent focus has
been the threat posed by Iran's ballistic missile program,
and that continues to be our focus and the basis of the
program that we are announcing today. In confronting that
threat, we welcome Russian cooperation to bring its
missile defense capabilities into a broader defense of our
common strategic interests, even as we continue our shared
efforts to end Iran's illicit nuclear program.

Going forward, my Administration will continue to consult
closely with Congress and with our Allies as we deploy
this system, and we will rigorously evaluate both the
threat posed by ballistic missiles, and the technology
that we are developing to counter it. I am confident that
with the steps that we have taken today, we have
strengthened America's national security, and enhanced our
capacity to confront 21st century threats. Thank you.

END TEXT OF PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT.
CLINTON