Aguon introduces Resolution 186

by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - Committee chair on the military relocation Senator Frank Aguon Jr is urging the president along with the Defense Department and Congress to support the permanent basing of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system and a Patriot missile defense system on Guam. Senator Frank Aguon Jr. introduced a resolution requesting such  following a meeting with Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance founder and chairman Riki Ellison last month on Guam.  Aguon says the permanent stationing would effectively protect Guam and the CNMI and the entire Asia Pacific Region.

"The reality is that North Korea decided to step back now the question you ask yourself is it because of other situations or is it because of the increased capability coming out of Guam because of the THAAD system. My suspicion and based on information provided to us by third party individuals that the THAAD system did contribute to serve as a deterrent to that activity so we're hopeful that this will be considered," he said.

Aguon says the current update on THAAD is they were initially set to be deployed here for 90 days but says that timeline has been extended for six months and could go up to a year.  Cosponsors of the resolution are Senators Tony Ada and Brant McCreadie.

Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo said, ""I appreciate Senator Aguon's efforts to address the security concerns residents of Guam have expressed in having a permanent THAAD system on Guam. I have expressed these concerns to the Joint Chiefs during several hearings in the House Armed Services Committee. Moreover, the House version of the FY14 NDAA includes a provision requiring a report from DoD on establishing a permanent missile defense capability on Guam. This additional capability is critical to the Asia-Pacific rebalance and was highlighted in the initial 2009 EIS for the realignment."