Ignoring Gates' comments, Hill article uncritically quotes retired general criticizing missile defense policy changes

Written by Tom Allison

Published

The Hill quoted a critic of proposed missile defense policy changes who claimed the proposal “will leave us vulnerable to missile attacks from countries like North Korea” without noting Secretary Gates' assertion that the changes would “focus on the rogue state and theater missile threat.”

In an April 7 Hill article, reporter Alexander Bolton uncritically quoted ret. Lt. Gen. Edward Baca's comments saying: “I am convinced that that the Pentagon's decision to halt the build-out of the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system [GMD] will leave us vulnerable to missile attacks from countries like North Korea in the near future.” However, Bolton provided no response from the Obama administration to this assertion; in fact, in his April 6 press conference, Defense Secretary Robert Gates specifically asserted that his proposal would restructure the missile defense program “to focus on the rogue state and theater missile threat.” Gates added: “We will not increase the number of current ground-based interceptors in Alaska, as had been planned, but we will continue to robustly fund continued research and development to improve the capability we already have to defend against long-range rogue missile threats, a threat North Korea's missile launch this past weekend reminds us is real.”

In addition, a reporter asked Gates, “If North Korea's missile test had been more successful, how would it have changed your view on this budget, specifically with missile defense?” Gates replied: “It actually would not have changed it at all. I think that, as General Cartwright said, we had -- for the terminal phase we had the THAAD [Terminal High Altitude Area Defense] missiles in Hawaii, prepared to protect Hawaii. And if we had -- if it had been a -- an intercontinental ballistic missile, the ground-based interceptors in Alaska could have taken care of that challenge as well. So I think we have in place, as the -- as the general said, we're in a pretty good place in terms of -- with respect to the rogue missile -- rogue country missile threat, in terms of the ground -- in terms of midcourse and terminal phase.”

Moreover, the article did not mention that Gates proposed funding increases for other missile defense systems that Gates deemed “most capable.” During the press conference, Gates asserted: "[T]o better protect our forces and those of our allies in theater from ballistic missile attack, we will add $700 million to field more of our most capable theater missile defense systems; specifically, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, THAAD, and the Standard Missile 3 programs."

From the April 7 Hill article:

Gates's plan also drew criticism from retired Lt. Gen. Edward Baca, who served as chief of the National Guard Bureau under former President Clinton.

“I am convinced that that the Pentagon's decision to halt the build-out of the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system [GMD] will leave us vulnerable to missile attacks from countries like North Korea in the near future,” said Baca.

U.S. National Guard troops provide the bulk of the manpower needed to operate the ground-based defense system.

Baca cited North Korea's weekend test launch.

“North Korea's recent test of a three-stage intercontinental ballistic missile, coupled with its troubling nuclear program, demonstrates that it is determined to develop the capabilities needed to strike the U.S. with a nuclear ballistic missile.”