Ask the Experts: Peter Huessy
Today’s guest for our “Ask the Experts” interview series is Peter Huessy, a senior defense associate at the National Defense University Foundation (NDUF) and president of the defense consulting firm, GeoStrategic Analysis. Mr. Huessy is also a consultant for Analytic Services and the Missile Defense Agency.
Welcome to the 33-Minutes blog, Mr. Huessy. Tell us about your organization and what it does.
NDUF is the key fundraising and public outreach arms of the NDU. My company, GeoStrategic Analysis, is a defense consulting firm specializing in nuclear, missile defense, homeland security and counter terrorism, as well as the congressional role in all of these matters.
Why is missile defense important?
General Chilton put it best: North Korea with ballistic missiles capable of targeting Los Angeles would be able to hold at risk the US population and threaten them after invading the Republic of Korea and thus able to leverage that capability against any US effort to come to the defense of the Republic of Korea; a US President should not be out in the box of only having the choice of surrender or risking the death of thousands of Americans. Missile defense takes away that coercive North Korea capability. Missile defense can also stop a terrorist EMP attack led by a joint terror group/Iranian effort, for example, as well as stop an accidental or unauthorized launch of a ballistic missile. Theater systems are critical to defending US forces overseas.
Do you believe the Obama administration is moving the U.S. in the right direction?
Some right directions in increasing the number roof Aegis SM and THAAD interceptors, but there is: (1) mismatch between missiles purchased and Navy ships available; (2) deployment of defenders for CONUS stopped at 30 in California and Alaska–not sufficient and need further improvements; (3) SM-3 will not be available earlier than 2020 to defend against long-range Iranian missiles; and (4) ABL not going forward or KEI, both good technologies; too few eggs in too few baskets re: future–almost all dependent upon the Navy standard missile.
What else do readers need to know about this issue?
There is no ONE (1) missile defense system; there are 14 interceptors, radars, and other elements of a world-wide deployment of systems that defend the US, our allies, and forces overseas from a variety of missile threats. Hezbollah has now secured Scud missiles from Syria that have ranges from hundreds of miles up to over 1500, while Iran and North Korea have rockets that now have ranges at +3000 kilometers. The media continually claim that missile defense costs $10 billion, as if it is a single system as opposed to nearly twenty integrated but separate programs. People need to know that in 2000, we had ZERO missile defense interceptors deployed worldwide; we now approach 1200 such interceptors. Their investment has been well spent!
Thank you!
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