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Monday, June 29, 2009
NELSON BACKS MISSILE DEFENSE

Source: Omaha World-Herald

WASHINGTON — Missile defense systems in Alaska and eastern Europe are necessary to counter the threats posed by North Korea and Iran, Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., said Monday from Warsaw, Poland.

“Having this kind of protection in various locations is critical to our national defense,” he said during a teleconference with reporters.

Nelson made the official trip to Poland as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and met with Polish and Russian officials. A key topic in the meetings was missile defense.

President Barack Obama has delayed Bush administration plans for a small missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic.

The system is a touchy subject with Russia. Although the system is intended to intercept missiles from Iran, Russia has tended to view it as a threat to its own security.

Nelson said he is a strong supporter of U.S. missile defense programs as long as Iran and North Korea continue to pose a danger. He said backing missile defense systems also sends a message that the United States is committed to its NATO allies.

Asked whether the United States should accommodate Russia's concerns, Nelson said those concerns developed in part because the Russians were not being kept in the loop about U.S. plans.

“You try not to surprise your adversaries or your colleagues if you can avoid doing that,” Nelson said.

He said an important part of his trip has been talking to the Russians about their country's taking a stronger stand against Iran's nuclear ambitions.

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