In light of the escalating nuclear
threat from North Korea and the proliferation of nuclear weapons
and missile technology across Asia, access to critical missile
defense related installations and facilities on Kwajalein Atoll in
the Marshall Islands is important to America's defense.
Because of this national security
benefit, the U.S. Congress should renew the Compact of Free
Association (CFA) between the United States, the Republic of the
Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia, together
known as the Freely Associated States (FAS).
Location,
Location, Location
Technically, the Compact was due
to expire in 2001, but it was extended for two years ending on
September 30, 2003 while negotiations progressed. The U.S. Congress
and the FAS are now weighing the benefits of signing a renewed CFA
that, among other things, would include an extension of the United
States' use of the Marshall Islands' Kwajalein Atoll for missile
defense testing.
The United States national security
would benefit greatly from Compact renewal. The three most
important elements of real estate are location, location, location
and the FAS - spread across vast areas of the Pacific - have all
three.
First, the Compact permits the United States
to continue to deny access of foreign militaries to the half a
million square miles of Pacific Ocean between Guam and
Hawaii.
Second, under present arrangements the U.S.
can keep its Ronald Reagan Missile Defense Test Site on the
Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands until 2016. If the Compact
is signed the Marshall Islands have offered to extend the United
States' stay until 2066, with the option for the U.S. to add an
additional 20 years and remain until 2086. This testing site is of
the utmost importance for the U.S. According to a Department of
Defense assessment, the facilities on Kwajalein Atoll are a
"national asset" - currently the only facility in the world with
sufficient room for full scale testing of long-range missiles. The
U.S. has completed a number of successful missile defense tests
from the Kwajalein site, including tests of Ground Based
Interceptors.
Third, Kwajalein is uniquely situated for
intelligence gathering and provides support for America's space
programs.
Expires
September 30
The Bush
Administration places great importance on missile defense and
should fully support the extension of U.S. use of the Kwajalein
site included in the new Compact of Free Association. Additionally,
by re-ratifying the CFA, Congress would sustain the United States'
close ties with the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of
Micronesia -- two important allies and emerging democracies. Now
that Congress is back in session, it should work to quickly push
through the CFA before the current Compact expires on September 30.
The benefits of the Compact to both parties are
manifest.