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Biden in 2001: ‘I Worry That a Narrow-Minded Pursuit of Missile Defense’ Could Damage ‘Negoti...
CNSNews ^ | April 4, 2013 | Patrick Burke

Posted on 04/05/2013 9:25:41 AM PDT by jazusamo

Full title: Biden in 2001: ‘I Worry That a Narrow-Minded Pursuit of Missile Defense’ Could Damage ‘Negotiations with North Korea’

(CNSNews.com) -- While the United States now is utilizing its missile defense systems in the wake of saber-rattling by North Korea, back on July 24, 2001, then Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) chaired a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing in which he said

in a prepared statement, “I worry that a narrow-minded pursuit of missile defense” would “derail” U.S. negotiations with the Communist-run North Korea.

In his statement, Biden criticized the Bush administration proposal for a missile defense system, questioning whether the costs of missile defense outweighed its benefits.

“I worry that funds devoted to missile defense, or the recent tax cut, are hurting our ability to meet these more current and realistic threats,” Biden said.

“And I worry that a narrow-minded pursuit of missile defense, without having any notion of what missile defense to develop, could derail both our programs in Russia, as well as our negotiations with North Korea,” he added.

Biden went on to ask whether the Bush plan for a missile defense system would make the United States “more, or less, secure.”

north korea
North Korean Communist leader Kim Jong-un convenes an urgent meeting of top generals. (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

“Is what the administration appears to be proposing worth the downside risks? At the end of the day, will the administration's missile defense program make us more, or less, secure? Will the benefits outweigh the costs?” Biden said in the statement.

That hearing in 2001 was held in the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and was entitled, “The Administration’s Missile Defense Program and the ABM Treaty.” In addition to Biden, some other committee members questioned Bush administration plans for a missile defense system.

Initially, President Bush wanted to invest $8.3 billion for the development of a missile defense system that would in part defend against threats from unfriendly states such as North Korea.

“There are dangerous capabilities being developed at this very moment that we do not know about, and which we may not know about for years, perhaps only after they are deployed,” according to written testimony from then Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Douglas J. Feith.

“North Korea is currently developing the Taepo Dong 2 missile, which will be able to strike even deeper into U.S. territory and carry an even larger weapons payload,” he later added.

Two days earlier on July 22, Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin—who at the time had been in office for about three months— agreed to talks that coupled a U.S. missile defense system with a mutual reduction in nuclear arms.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: bho44; bhoasia; biden; missiledefense; nationalinsecurity; nknukes; northkorea; waronterror
It seems uncle Joe doesn't believe in peace through strength.


1 posted on 04/05/2013 9:25:41 AM PDT by jazusamo
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To: jazusamo

We will rue the day that we didn’t pursue the Star Wars defense.


2 posted on 04/05/2013 9:27:54 AM PDT by grobdriver
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To: jazusamo

This is not surprising coming from Joe Biden. We have to remember he didn’t just get stupid yesterday.

After April 10 we may be thanking President Reagan for his foresight.


3 posted on 04/05/2013 9:29:05 AM PDT by Venturer
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To: jazusamo
IIRC, Bubba's administration had missed the boat on the fact that NK was developing nuclear weapons.

The Bush Administration caught NK red-handed.

NK was totally uncooperative and still is...Like Kim can control the world??

I think Kim is setting himself up for assassination by his own people.

4 posted on 04/05/2013 9:33:23 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: jazusamo
America has no real protection and with the destruction of the greatest military in the world, King Obama has destroyed this Nation.
5 posted on 04/05/2013 9:34:31 AM PDT by Logical me
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To: Sacajaweau

I sure hope you’re right and that whoever is behind it is sane and takes Kim’s handlers with him.


6 posted on 04/05/2013 9:36:45 AM PDT by jazusamo ("Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent." -- Adam Smith)
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Please bump the Freepathon or click above and donate or become a monthly donor!

7 posted on 04/05/2013 9:40:00 AM PDT by jazusamo ("Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent." -- Adam Smith)
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To: jazusamo

These friggin’ idiots refuse to acknowledge that the only folks complying with the treaties resulting from these “negotiations” are US!!!

Since SALT I, all other signatories have systematically CHEATED!!!

While the liberals and the media have ensured that America is OVER Compliant, with the degree to which we tie our own hands.


8 posted on 04/05/2013 9:44:56 AM PDT by G Larry (Which of Obama's policies do you think I'd support if he were white?)
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To: jazusamo

Can’t wait to see the chest thumping and and cheering when Zero and his gang take credit for shooting down a missile, when they have done everything they could to keep us from having missile defensed since Reagan.


9 posted on 04/05/2013 10:14:31 AM PDT by Kozak (The Republic is dead. I do not owe what we have any loyalty, wealth or sympathy.)
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To: Kozak
Yep, there’ll be so many I’s and me’s along with his chest thumping we won't be able to count them, Obummer is truly pathetic.
10 posted on 04/05/2013 10:19:50 AM PDT by jazusamo ("Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent." -- Adam Smith)
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To: jazusamo

Notice how Syria has suddenly disappeared from the news.


11 posted on 04/05/2013 10:51:42 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: Sacajaweau

Exactly, it’s completely off the radar.


12 posted on 04/05/2013 10:58:37 AM PDT by jazusamo ("Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent." -- Adam Smith)
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To: Logical me

The peace of the world is also destroyed. May just be that the rest of the world is going to miss Pax Americana really quickly.


13 posted on 04/07/2013 12:41:52 AM PDT by Olog-hai
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