On Monday, September 3rd, Congressman Trent Franks delivered a powerful message to the 2007 Multinational Ballistic Missile Defense Conference in Maastricht, the Netherlands. The purpose of this conference was to discuss the proposed missile-shield for Poland and the Czech Republic to be built by the United States.

Congressman Franks address to the conference attendees was in favor of the shield, which he said would be used to block a missile attack on the U.S. or Europe from Iran or a Jihadist organization. Franks gave a strong tribute to President Ronald Reagan and how hard he fought for missile defense against the Soviet Union. Franks makes note that though the Cold War is over, the free world still faces the threat of a nuclear attack from radical regimes and terrorist networks.

Franks also said to Russia in his address to let Poland and the Czech Republic decide for themselves whether or not they want the silo (Poland) and radar (Czech) to be placed on their soil. Russia is merely saber rattling in their protest to the shield, and are nostalgic for the days of Soviet power when the nations of Eastern Europe could be strong-armed by Moscow. But he also challenged Russia to build a better shield if they did not like the current one being proposed.

Probably the funniest thing that Congressman Franks said in his address was the following:

Some of you may have met a few of the dissenting voices in Congress who propose technical alternatives that are no more than PowerPoint slides and have very significant cost, schedule and performance issues. Their idea may to be to delay this effort in case a Democrat is elected in the next American presidential election. Ladies and Gentlemen, if a Democrat is elected President in the United States, it is the end of the world and none of this will matter anyway.

Just kidding… the truth is that this missile defense system is important enough to America and the world and has enough congressional support that I believe even under a Democrat president, it would continue to go forward.

Congressman Franks delivered a strong argument for the proposed anti-missile shield, and Arizona and America should feel fortunate to have such a strong and well-versed person fighting for such policy.

Ever watchful, ever mindful.

The Guard
Arizona Watchtower