Senate unites in support of BMD

WASHINGTON, July 16 (UPI) -- Some 90 percent of U.S. senators have committed themselves to supporting the development of ballistic missile defense.

The U.S. Senate Friday voted to adopt a missile defense amendment presented by Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., by the overwhelming majority of 90-5. The measure was presented as an amendment to the defense authorization bill. It said that the policy of the United States was "to develop and deploy an effective defense system against the threat of an Iranian nuclear missile attack against the U.S. and European allies."

"It is important that we acknowledge the growing threat to peace and security that arises from Iran's nuclear and missile programs," Sessions said in a statement.

"Iran's government has continued developing weapons of increasing sophistication and range, in defiance of the international community's requests. Iran's government has openly declared hostilities on America, and we have traced explosives and weapons found in Iraq back to Iran," Sessions said. "The Senate today acknowledged that we must build missile defense systems that ensure we are able to protect our country and our allies against a potential Iranian attack," he said.

The vote followed an unexpected degree of bipartisan cooperation and agreement on the Strategic Forces Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee in retaining most of the key funding for U.S. BMD development programs.