Abandoning Missile Defense Plans Is a Mistake, Cole Says
WASHINGTON - U.S. Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) provided the following statement regarding news that President Obama has chosen to abandon plans for the European Missile Defense site, which would have placed 10 missile interceptors in Poland and a radar in the Czech Republic.
"The announcement to abandon our plans for a missile defense shield in Poland and the Czech Republic is extremely disappointing," Congressman Cole said. "This is a grave error that could potentially undermine our country's strategic influence and diplomatic relations in the European region. Ground-based missile defenses are effective deterrents that stymie aggression from unfriendly nations. With unpredictable regimes working to get their hands on nuclear capabilities, we cannot afford to stand down."
"This is a reckless and dangerous decision by the President. And it is compounded by the fact that the Democrat majority has already stripped $1.2 billion out of our existing missile defense budget since taking control of Congress. The government has no more important and legitimate purpose than to protect our national security. These decisions are an abandonment of that purpose."
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