| Cohen: Missile defense system in Gulf `imperative' | |
| U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen said Saturday it has become "imperative'' for U.S. allies in the Gulf to acquire a ballistic missile defense system to counter long range weapons in the hands of countries such as Iran and Iraq . | |
| Cohen said the United States has five defense systems under research and development and "we hope we hope we can share that technology with Bahrain and other Gulf countries.'' | |
| He was speaking to reporters before leaving for Qatar , his second stop in a six-nation Gulf tour, which includes the United Arab Emirates , Oman , Kuwait and Saudi Arabia . | |
| "Because of the proliferation of missile technology globally but especially in the Gulf region, we believe it's important'' to look at ways to cooperate with U.S. allies, said Cohen. | |
| "I think it becomes imperative that countries cooperate and develop a theater missile protection system for their people and for their forces,'' said Cohen, citing threats from Iran and Iraq. | |
| The United States sees Iraq and Iran, which recently tested a long-range missile, as major threats to the Gulf region. | |
| Cohen said Iraq, under U.N. sanctions , continues efforts to acquire missile technology that has a longer than permissible range. | |