DATE=3/17/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246794
TITLE=SENATE-MISSILE DEFENSE (L)(CQ)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A CALL FOR A NATIONAL MISSILE-DEFENSE SYSTEM HAS EASILY
CLEARED THE U-S SENATE (BY A VOTE OF 97-TO-THREE), WITH
SUPPORTERS SAYING THE PLAN SHOULD NOT HURT RELATIONS WITH
RUSSIA. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
IS ALSO LIKELY TO APPROVE THE BILL THIS WEEK.
TEXT: WHILE THE MEASURE WAS ONCE THE FOCUS OF HEATED DEBATE, IT
PASSED THE SENATE WITH JUST THREE DISSENTING VOTES (WEDNESDAY).
THIS REFLECTS GROWING CONCERN ABOUT MISSILE THREATS FROM ROGUE
STATES LIKE NORTH KOREA -- AND FROM CHINA, IN LIGHT OF REPORTS
THAT BEIJING HAS OBTAINED U-S NUCLEAR-WARHEAD TECHNOLOGY.
THE VOTE ALSO MARKS A TURNAROUND FOR THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION
AND MANY OF ITS ALLIES, ALTHOUGH DEMOCRATIC SENATOR CARL LEVIN
ARGUES THEIR BASIC VIEWS HAVE NOT SHIFTED.
/// LEVIN ACT ///
THE WHITE HOUSE HAS NOT CHANGED ITS POSITION ON
NATIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE ANY MORE THAN I HAVE. THE BILL
HAS BEEN CHANGED IN TWO SIGNIFICANT WAYS. I THINK THE
BILL HAS BEEN VASTLY IMPROVED.
/// END ACT ///
THE ORIGINAL BILL DECLARED THE UNITED STATES SHOULD DEPLOY AN
ANTI-MISSILE SHIELD AS SOON AS TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS. THE VERSION
THAT PASSED THE SENATE WAS AMENDED TO SAY THE NATION SHOULD ALSO
KEEP WORKING WITH RUSSIA TO REDUCE OFFENSIVE NUCLEAR ARSENALS.
THIS IS DESIGNED TO EASE CONCERNS THE MEASURE WOULD UNDERMINE THE
LANDMARK ANTI-BALLISTIC MISSILE TREATY, WHICH WASHINGTON AND
MOSCOW SIGNED IN 1972. THE NEW LANGUAGE LED THE WHITE HOUSE TO
DROP ITS LONG-STANDING VETO THREAT. BUT DEMOCRATIC SENATOR PAUL
WELLSTONE WARNS THE BILL COULD STILL CRIPPLE FUTURE ARMS CONTROL,
INCLUDING RUSSIAN RATIFICATION OF THE START-TWO NUCLEAR TREATY.
/// WELLSTONE ACT ///
OUR FOCUS SHOULD BE ON THE ARSENAL OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS
THAT RUSSIA HAS NOW, AND HOW WE CAN HAVE ARMS-CONTROL
AGREEMENTS WITH RUSSIA. WE OUGHT NOT TO BE PUTTING
A-B-M AND START IN JEOPARDY. WE OUGHT NOT TO BE
PUTTING ARMS CONTROL IN JEOPARDY.
/// END ACT ///
THE BILL DOES NOT SAY WHEN THE MISSILE DEFENSE NETWORK MUST BE
IN PLACE, OR HOW MUCH IT SHOULD COST. THE U-S GOVERNMENT HAS
ALREADY SPENT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON RESEARCH AND TESTING SINCE
PRESIDENT REAGAN FIRST PROPOSED THE IDEA IN 1983. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/ENE/WTW
17-Mar-99 6:07 PM EST (2307 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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