DATE=3/18/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246854
TITLE=CONGRESS-MISSILE DEFENSE (L)
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE U-S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS JOINED THE SENATE
IN ENDORSING DEPLOYMENT OF A MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM (BY A VOTE OF
317 TO 105). MANY DEMOCRATS STOOD WITH REPUBLICANS IN A SHOW OF
SUPPORT FOR THE LEGISLATION. BUT AS V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON
REPORTS, THERE WERE ALSO VOICES RAISED IN DISSENT.
TEXT: IT IS ONE OF THE SHORTEST BILLS EVER BROUGHT BEFORE
CONGRESS. THE FIFTEEN WORD HOUSE RESOLUTION SAYS SIMPLY THAT IT
IS THE POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES TO DEPLOY A MISSILE DEFENSE.
REPUBLICANS -- LIKE NEBRASKA'S DOUG BEREUTER (BEE'-WRITER) -- SAY
DEPLOYMENT IS LONG OVERDUE.
///BEREAUTER ACT///
THE THREATS FROM A LIMITED MISSILE ATTACK ARE HERE
NOW...VERY REAL...AND POTENTIALLY VERY DISASTROUS FOR
OUR CITIZENS WHO ARE RIGHT NOW UNDEFENDED AGAINST THIS
THREAT.
///END ACT///
CREATION OF AN ANTI-MISSILE SHIELD HAS LONG BEEN A REPUBLICAN
PRIORITY. BUT FOR MANY YEARS, DEMOCRATS STOOD UNITED IN
OPPOSITION. NOW, THAT UNITY IS STARTING TO CRACK.
DEMOCRATS LINING UP BEHIND THE BILL CITE THE 1998 FINDINGS OF A
SPECIAL COMMISSION SET UP BY CONGRESS TO STUDY THE NATURE OF THE
NUCLEAR THREAT FACING THE UNITED STATES. THE COMMISSION FOUND
THE RISK OF NUCLEAR ATTACK -- ACCIDENTAL OR DELIBERATE -- IS
RISING MUCH FASTER THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT.
ALABAMA DEMOCRAT BUD CRAMER SAYS HE BELIEVES IN THE COMMISSION'S
FINDINGS. HE SPENT LAST WEEKEND TRYING TO CONVINCE MEMBERS OF
THE RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT.....AND THEN TOOK HIS CASE TO THE HOUSE
CHAMBER.
/// CRAMER ACT///
TO VOTE FOR DEPLOYMENT IS TO BEGIN TO PROTECT THE SHORES
OF THIS COUNTRY FROM MISSILE THREATS FROM ROGUE NATIONS.
IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DO SO.
///END ACT///
BUT NOT ALL THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS BACKED THE BILL. IN FACT, THE
VOTES OF PARTY MEMBERS WERE EVENLY SPLIT FOR AND AGAINST THE
LEGISLATION. MANY ARGUED AGAINST SPENDING BILLIONS ON UNTESTED
TECHNOLOGY.
OTHERS WARNED ABOUT RE-IGNITING AN INTERNATIONAL ARMS RACE.
GEORGIA'S JOHN LEWIS OFFERED AN EMOTIONAL APPEAL.
///LEWIS ACT///
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES, DO NOT CHOOSE BULLETS OVER BABIES,
BOMBS OVER BOOKS, MISSILES OVER MEDICINE.
///END ACT///
CRITICS OF THE BILL ALSO STRESSED IT WOULD VIOLATE THE TERMS OF
THE 1972 ANTI-BALLISTIC MISSILE TREATY, WHICH LIMITS THE KIND OF
MISSILE DEFENSE THAT CAN BE DEPLOYED BY THE UNITED STATES AND
RUSSIA.
MINDFUL OF THOSE CONCERNS, THE SENATE AMENDED THE BILL TO
REAFFIRM AMERICA'S COMMITMENT TO ARMS CONTROL. THE ARMS CONTROL
LANGUAGE IS NOT IN THE HOUSE VERSION. BUT IT IS EXPECTED TO
PREVAIL WHEN A FINAL COMPROMISE PIECE OF LEGISLATION IS SENT TO
THE WHITE HOUSE FOR THE PRESIDENT'S SIGNATURE. (SIGNED)
NEB/PW/JO
18-Mar-99 6:05 PM EST (2305 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
