The USS Monterey -- equipped with systems to detect, track, engage and destroy ballistic missiles in flight -- will deploy next week from its home port of Norfolk, Va., for a six-month tour in the U.S. European Command area of responsibility, Plumb said.
The article doesn't mention where it will deploy, but an earlier article indicates that the Mediterranean Sea is where the ship will go as part of the plan:
Phase 1, through 2012, calls for U.S. missile interceptors deploying to the Mediterranean Sea with a forward-based sensor situated in southern Europe.
The second phase, from 2012 through 2015, will deploy improved interceptors and sensors in both sea-based systems and a land-based site in Romania.
Phase 3, from 2015 through 2018, will establish a land-based interceptor site in Poland and field more advanced interceptors both on land and at sea. The final phase, from 2018 through 2020, will deploy next-generation interceptors intended to counter long-range ballistic missiles during their ascent phase, Miller said.
First, it is clear from the plan that a single ship is just a start to test the system and not an umbrella. A lot more needs to be put in place to defend Europe. As I wrote a while ago, I don't see how a ship in the Mediterranean with Standard-3 missiles could possibly intercept missiles going to Europe since I don't think the missile has the altitude to do the job other than within a 500 kilometer radius of the ship itself.
And that doesn't even address the fact that even a complete SM-3 coverage of Europe won't defend America from Iranian missiles (when Iran finally perfects ICBMs) as the Bush plan would have done, in addition to protecting Europe. Don't pretend it will because at best all it could do is track Iranian missiles going over Europe above SM-3 range on the way to targets in the United States.
Now, if we planned to deploy weapons in Turkey and Iraq close to Iran to hit Iranian missiles as they ascend as the first line of defense, that would be a different situation altogether. That could be done, I think.
But based on what I see rather than what I might guess, I don't understand why the Obama administration plan is superior for America. As best as I can tell, it is certainly better for Europe because it can be put in place sooner. But it does nothing for us. Although for the Obama administration you can see the appeal of this plan--it isn't the Bush plan.
