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DATE=3/15/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246661
TITLE=SENATE-MISSILE DEFENSE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE U-S SENATE HAS TAKEN UP A LONG-RUNNING CONTROVERSY 
OVER MISSILE DEFENSE - THIS TIME WITH THE ARGUMENTS FUELED BY 
CHINA'S ALLEGED THEFT OF NUCLEAR BOMB SECRETS.  V-O-A'S DAVID 
SWAN REPORTS, A VOTE ON A MISSILE DEFENSE PROPOSAL IS EXPECTED IN
THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
TEXT:  THE BILL IS JUST ONE SENTENCE LONG AND CONTAINS NO MONEY 
BUT IS STILL THE FOCUS OF INTENSE DEBATE.  THE MEASURE SIMPLY 
DECLARES IT U-S POLICY TO DEPLOY A NATIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE 
SYSTEM AS SOON AS TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS, TO GUARD AGAINST LIMITED 
BALLISTIC MISSILE ATTACKS.
WHILE THE IDEA HAS EXISTED SINCE THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION, THE 
ISSUE HAS GROWN MORE POLITICALLY CHARGED IN LIGHT OF DISCLOSURES 
THAT CHINA MAY HAVE OBTAINED U-S NUCLEAR WARHEAD TECHNOLOGY. 
REPUBLICAN SENATOR JESSE HELMS SAYS THIS MAKES A NATIONWIDE 
MISSILE SHIELD ALL THE MORE URGENT.  
                          // HELMS ACT //
         CHINA IS ON THE VERGE OF TRIPLING OR QUADRUPLING THE 
         NUMBER OF WARHEADS POINTED AT AMERICAN CITIES.  AND THIS
         MR. (SENATE) PRESIDENT IS THE VERY SAME COUNTRY THAT 
         FLEXED ITS MILITARY MIGHT BY FIRING MISSILES IN THE 
         STRAIT OF TAIWAN IN AN EFFORT TO INTIMIDATE A 
         LONGSTANDING AND PEACEFUL ALLY OF THE UNITED STATES.  
                            // END ACT //
THE BILL IS OPPOSED BY MOST DEMOCRATS AND THE WHITE HOUSE.  THE 
ADMINISTRATION HAS SAID SOME FORM OF MISSILE DEFENSE IS 
JUSTIFIED, IN LIGHT OF THE THREAT FROM ROGUE STATES LIKE IRAQ OR 
NORTH KOREA. BUT OFFICIALS FEAR THIS PROPOSAL WOULD RUSH THE 
NATION INTO DEPLOYING A COSTLY, UNTESTED SYSTEM AND ALL BUT 
DESTROY THE ANTI-BALLISTIC MISSILE (A-B-M) TREATY WITH RUSSIA. 
DEMOCRATIC SENATOR CARL LEVIN SAYS THE PLAN SENDS THE WRONG 
MESSAGE TO MOSCOW - ONE WEEK BEFORE A WASHINGTON VISIT BY 
RUSSIA'S PRIME MINISTER.     
                         // LEVIN ACT //
         AND I JUST WONDER HOW THE U-S SENATE WOULD REACT, MADAM 
         PRESIDENT IF ON THE EVE OF AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT'S VISIT
         TO MOSCOW, THE RUSSIAN DUMA PASSED LEGISLATION THAT 
         UNDERMINES ONE OF THE BASIC FOUNDATIONS OF U-S RUSSIAN 
         RELATIONS.  YOU CAN BET IT WOULD CAUSE ONE HECK OF AN 
         UPROAR HERE.     
                          // END ACT //
RUSSIA REACTED SHARPLY THIS YEAR WHEN THE UNITED STATES RAISED 
THE PROSPECT OF LOOSENING OR RETHINKING THE A-B-M ACCORD. 
HOWEVER, THE SENATE IS LIKELY TO PASS THE BILL SOMETIME THIS 
WEEK.  SHOULD THE HOUSE (OF REPRESENTATIVES) FOLLOW SUIT, IT 
WOULD SET THE STAGE FOR A VETO FIGHT WITH THE PRESIDENT.(SIGNED)
NEB/DS/PT
15-Mar-99 6:13 PM EST (2313 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.