U.S. Representative Michael R. Turner today sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates requesting that a July 2008 report on the cost effectiveness of the planned European missile defense system be declassified. Since the Obama Administration’s decision to cancel the proposed system based on cost effectiveness is contrary to the recommendations of this report, Rep. Turner believes it is essential that the report be declassified for a robust debate on how best to deploy a missile defense system to protect the U.S. and its allies.
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U.S. Representative Michael R. Turner today sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates requesting that a July 2008 report on the cost effectiveness of the planned European missile defense system be declassified.  Since the Obama Administration’s decision to cancel the proposed system based on cost effectiveness is contrary to the recommendations of this report, Rep. Turner believes it is essential that the report be declassified for a robust debate on how best to deploy a missile defense system to protect the U.S. and its allies.

Rep. Turner’s letter requested the declassification of the July 2008 report, “Independent Assessment of the Proposed Deployment of Ballistic Missile Defense Systems in Europe,” was prepared by the Institute for Defense Analysis (IDA).  The letter was co-signed by House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Howard “Buck” McKeon (R-Calif.) and House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-Ind.). 

“In light of today’s decision by the Obama Administration to abandon our planned European missile defense system, it is critical that this report be declassified,” said Turner, Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces which has jurisdiction over our nation’s nuclear arsenal and missile defense systems.  “I call on Secretary Gates to declassify this report for a vigorous debate on the future of our nation’s missile defense systems.”

The Obama Administration announced this morning it plans to scrap the European ballistic missile defense system planned for deployment in Poland and the Czech Republic.  Rep. Turner, along with Ranking Member McKeon and other members of the committee have called for the Administration to reconsider this proposal.