THE NECESSITY OF A NATIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM

Rep. Mike Morley


It is difficult to turn on the television, listen to the radio, or look at any form of media these days without being bombarded by details of the conflict in Iraq. Equally evident is the threat of terrorist nations or groups using weapons of mass destruction to intimidate the world and to terrorize free nations everywhere. The continued progress of terrorists towards a delivery system makes biological, chemical, and even nuclear weapons a threat to even our mainland and are a paramount concern to the defense of our nation. This very real possibility has caused us to take repeated military action over the past couple of decades against countries who are governed by or harbor terrorist regimes.

In light of this continued and increasing threat, I sponsored House Joint Resolution 15 Resolution Supporting Efforts to Build and Deploy National Missile Defense System. It passed both the State House of Representatives and the Senate, was signed by the Governor, and has been forwarded to the United States Congress to encourage support of a national missile defense system. The resolution reads as follows:

This joint resolution of the Legislature urges Utah's congressional delegation to support and vote for all efforts to build and deploy a national missile defense system. Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:

WHEREAS, the 1972 Anti Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty was signed with a nation that no longer exists;
WHEREAS, an increasing number of nations--including North Korea--either currently possess the capability to launch missile attacks against the United States or are working to obtain that capability;
WHEREAS, due in part to advances in technology, the possibility that a missile bearing a weapon of mass destruction will be used against United States forces or interests is higher today than it was during most of the Cold War;
WHEREAS, terrorist groups, not just states, may have the means to buy intercontinental ballistic missiles;
WHEREAS, the nation still has no defense against missile attack;
WHEREAS, the Cold War policy of "mutual assured destruction" assumed in arms control treaties is not sufficient to deter terrorist missile attacks; and
WHEREAS, defending against a missile attack is the government's moral obligation:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah urges the state's congressional delegation to support and vote for all efforts to build and deploy a national missile defense system as rapidly as possible.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of Utah's congressional delegation.

One of the primary roles of government as defined in the Constitution is to “provide for the common defense”. As a nation, we spend billions of dollars each year on programs which are not specifically mandated by the constitution, yet it would seem that we continue to place a lower priority in an area where we are increasingly vulnerable. It is my opinion that a national missile defense system is as critical to our nation’s defense strategy today as muskets and cannons were during the Revolutionary War, as a strong Navy was during the early 20th century, and as a newly organized air force was during World War II. We simply must keep our defense systems current to combat the threats that confront us.

I am a committed advocate of a strong national defense. I believe that to abdicate that responsibility to any other entity, such as the United Nations, is a breach of our constitutional mandate as a nation and will lead ultimately to tyranny and disaster. I remain confident that the strength of our military is one of the primary reasons that the United States of America is today the world’s only superpower.

Back to Articles