Press Conference with Lieutenant General Henry Obering Regarding U.S. Missile Defense
19 March 2007
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| Lieutenant General Henry Obering during a press conference in Berlin, Germany on March 15, 2007 |
At a March 15 press conference in Berlin, Germany, U.S. Missile Defense Agency Director, Lieutenant General Henry Obering, outlined American missile defense plans and fielded a number of questions about the level of U.S. consultations with Russia and Europe. General Obering emphasized that U.S. missile defense activities are a response to an "aggressive Iranian program" and that the U.S. system is purely "defensive" and is "in no way" a threat to the Russian missile fleet. He said he himself had briefed the NATO-Russia Council twice and noted the regular consultative sessions the U.S. has had on the subject with Europe and Russia. Obering said there is a "standing invitation to Russia to visit U.S. missile defense facilities.” In response to questions about a potential new arms race with Russia being driven by American missile defense efforts, Obering said the arms race "we are concerned about is the one being led by Iran." He characterized the Iranian threat as "hostile" based on Tehran's capabilities and intentions. Obering said the U.S. system to potentially be deployed in Poland and the Czech Republic would be separate but "complementary" to missile defense assets to be developed by NATO. For video, audio and a full transcript of this press conference, click here.
