Hearing of the National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations Subcommittee of the House Government Reform Committee

Federal News Service March 9, 2004 Tuesday
Copyright 2004 Federal News Service, Inc.
Federal News Service

March 9, 2004 Tuesday

SECTION: CAPITOL HILL HEARING

HEADLINE: HEARING OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY, EMERGING THREATS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE GOVERNMENT REFORM COMMITTEE

SUBJECT: NONPROLIFERATION: ASSESSING MISSILE TECHNOLOGY EXPORT CONTROLS

REP. TURNER: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I want to recognize Representative Burton from Indiana, Representative Duncan from Tennessee, and Mr. Tierney from Massachusetts who have jointed us.

REP. DAN BURTON (R-IN): Did you want to go with Mr. Tierney first, or do you want me to go ahead?

REP. TURNER: If you --

REP. BURTON: Okay, thank you.

REP. TURNER: -- have questions, go right ahead.

REP. BURTON: I just have a couple of questions. You know, the nuclear proliferation that's been taking place over the past couple of decades scares the pants off everybody. We're worrying about North Korea right now and others. And after I saw the Hellfire missile that was fired from that Predator that took out some of Osama bin Laden's top people, I think I came to the realization, like a lot of people, that this is something-it's a weapon of the future that could be used for a whole host of things and it was something that ought to be looked at with a jaundiced eye.

And one of the things that concerns me, and you touched on it a minute ago, was the Chinese and others selling advanced missile technology-and I don't know about the kind of technology we have on the UAV-but to a lot of countries that we might be very concerned about, like Iran and others in the somewhat hostile world. I don't know if there's anybody in the administration that's here or not that could give us an idea on what kind of pressures we could use to bring about some changes in the policies of these other countries, in particular countries like China, that are selling this technology to our potential adversaries. What can be done or what is being done to stem the tide of this technology getting out of hand?

I don't think we're going to see the end of wars in our lifetime and I'd like the United States to be a few jumps ahead of the potential enemies, and I'd like to know if anybody can answer what we're doing to try to make sure that the kind of proliferation we're talking about doesn't continue, and what kind of pressure we can be bringing to bear on our friends like the Chinese, quote/unquote, who are selling this technology? Any of you want to take a shot at that? Is there anybody in the State Department or the administration that might want to take a shot at that?

REP. TURNER: Mr. Burton, we do have a second panel which --

REP. BURTON: Should I reserve that question for them?

REP. TURNER: They certainly could respond on behalf --

REP. BURTON: Well, if they're out there-and I have to leave-I hope you'd answer that question. I'll try to stick around. Okay, thank you. I think that's the only question I have. I was just listening and I thought, my gosh, how do we get a handle on this thing? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.