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| US beefing up defense of Gulf allies |
| 2010-02-01 |
| The United States has begun beefing up its approach to defending its Gulf allies against potential Iranian missile strikes, officials say. The defenses are being stepped up in advance of possible increased sanctions against Iran. The Obama administration has quietly increased the capability of land-based Patriot defensive missiles in several Gulf Arab nations, and one military official said the navy is increasing the presence of ships capable of knocking out hostile missiles in flight. The officials discussed aspects of the defensive strategy Saturday on condition of anonymity because some elements are classified. The moves, part of a broader adjustment in the US approach to missile defense, including in Europe and Asia, have been in the works for months. Details have not been publicly announced. The White House will send a review of ballistic missile strategy to Congress on Monday that frames the larger shifts. Attention to defense of the Gulf region, a focus on diffuse networks of sensors and weapons and cooperation with Russia are major elements of the study, according to documents obtained by the Associated Press. Russia opposed Bush administration plans for a land-based missile defense site in Eastern Europe, and President Barack Obama's decision to walk away from that plan last year was partly in pursuit of new capabilities that might hold greater promise and partly in deference to Russia. One military official said the adjustments in the Gulf should be seen as prudent defensive measures designed to deter Iran from taking aggressive action in the region, more than as a signal that Washington expects Iran to retaliate for any additional sanctions. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton consulted with numerous allies during a visit to London this week. She told reporters that the evident failure of US offers to engage Iran in negotiations over its nuclear program means the US will now press for additional sanctions against the Iranian government. Gen. David Petraeus, the US Central Command chief who is responsible for US military operations across the Middle East, mentioned in several recent public speeches one element of the defensive strategy in the Gulf: upgrading Patriot missile systems, which originally were deployed in the region to shoot down aircraft but now can hit missiles in flight. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #4 uh-oh, more banging on the drum....: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7008985.ece |
| Posted by: Uncle Phester 2010-02-01 12:49 |
| #3 Theoretically speaking, could these newly deployed assets be used to protect Iran from an Israeli attack or retaliatory strike? I wonder---did Obama ask the Chiefs that himself, or did he sent his NSA to ask? |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2010-02-01 07:57 |
| #2 What a depressing nym you have - what did you do to offend the powers that be? |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2010-02-01 07:42 |
| #1 Theoretically speaking, could these newly deployed assets be used to protect Iran from an Israeli attack or retaliatory strike? |
| Posted by: Blinky Whinese9869 2010-02-01 05:17 |