Sarah Palin Against Missile Defense Budget Cuts

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and members of her senior staff discuss budget issues with legislators on April 9, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 09-80. Governor Palin Argues Against Cuts to Missile Defense Budget April 9, 2009, Juneau, Alaska – Governor Sarah Palin has urged the Secretary of Defense not to reduce the Missile Defense Agency’s budget. In a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Governor Palin outlined her concerns about the proposed $1.4 billion in budget cuts to the agency.

“Your announcement of a proposed $1.4 billion reduction of the Missile Defense Agency’s budget is not the best decision for today’s threat environment. Alaska is committed to supporting continued missile defense implementation at Fort Greely and the development of future technology through our Kodiak Launch Complex, which has access to the Gulf of Alaska Maritime Exercise Area. This unique training space offers a safe and secure location to further develop and test future missile intercept technologies in conjunction with the latest sea-based and land-based radar.

“I am deeply concerned with North Korea’s development and testing program. It has the clear potential of impacting Alaska, Hawaii, and possibly the West Coast, with a nuclear-armed warhead. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is that we continue to develop and perfect our global missile defense shield.”

A copy of the letter can be found at: www.gov.state.ak.us/pdf/Letter-MissileDefense_Apr08-2009.pdf ###