Washington, DC---Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Fred
Thompson (R-TN) today strongly reacted to testimony that Iran now has the
missile capability to reach the United States as a result of the proliferation
activities of North Korea, China, and Russia.
National security expert Dr. Stephen Cambone today testified before the
Senate Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on International Security and
Proliferation, and said that, due to proliferation activity by North Korea,
China, and Russia, "In my judgment, Iran now has the capability with
readily available foreign assistance to develop and to deploy, with little
testing, ballistic missiles with sufficient range to reach the United
States."
Dr. Cambone went on to say, "The result of proliferation activity
involving Iran is worth underscoring. In roughly a decade-from the time it
became involved in North Korea’s No Dong program-Iran has arrived at
the threshold of ICBM capability."
"This is bad news for our national security and another frightening
example of how the Administration’s policies to stop the proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction aren’t working," Thompson said. "How
many experts have to tell us that our safety, and that of our children, is in
serious jeopardy before we’re willing to take the steps necessary to hold
these nations accountable for their dismal record on the proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction?"
Thompson said the testimony highlights the need to aggressively pursue a
missile defense system and his legislation to combat the proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction and missile technologies by key supplier countries
including the People’s Republic of China, Russia, and North Korea was offered
as an amendment to the bill granting China Permanent Normal Trade Relations
after repeated attempts to get a separate vote on it were blocked. The
Administration vigorously opposed the bill and the Senate tabled the
legislation last week by a vote of 65-32.
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