DATE=4/26/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=MISSILE DEFENSE (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-261746
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Defense Secretary William Cohen is questioning
a new report that puts the cost of a proposed National
Missile Defense (N-M-D) at 60 billion dollars ---
roughly double previous estimates. At the same time,
the head of a key Senate committee says Washington
should consider giving the system away to Russia. V-
O-A's Jim Randle reports.
TEXT: Technical and economic experts at the
Congressional Budget office say it is likely to cost
60 billion dollars over the next 15 years to build and
operate a system to protect the United States from
even a small number of ballistic missiles.
Military scientists and engineers are readying a third
major test of the complex system that will help top
officials decide whether or not to build it. The
system's missile interceptors have hit one target and
missed another in the previous two tests.
The new C-B-O report gives ammunition to critics of
missile defenses who say the system is staggeringly
expensive and not likely to work.
But Defense Secretary William Cohen tells members of
the Senate (Defense Appropriations Sub-Committee) that
the report is unfair because it assumes a much more
complex and elaborate system than the one envisioned
by the Pentagon.
/// Cohen act ///
The one that appeared in today's news as far as
C.B.O. (the Congressional Budget Office) is
concerned, they have included 250 missiles and
two sites.
/// end act ///
Mr. Cohen says he will make a recommendation to the
president in a few months.
He says the decision to build or shelve the system
will consider cost as well as the workability of the
N-M-D.
Russian leaders say the system would violate an
agreement limiting defenses against ballistic missiles
that has been a key part of arms control efforts.
Officials in Moscow say if Washington builds a missile
defense system, they may back out of arms control
agreements that have cut the number of nuclear
warheads in half, reigniting a nuclear arms race.
But the Chairman of the Senate committee that oversees
the Pentagon's 300-billion dollar annual budget says
Moscow might view the system differently if the
Americans gave them the technology. Senator Ted
Stevens is the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations
Committee.
/// Stevens ///
I don't know why we wouldn't share N-M-D with them. I
would love to see us have a joint session with the
Duma (Russian Parliament) to tell them `Let's build it
together. They have problems from rogue nations just
as we do."
/// end act ///
Defense Secretary Cohen says there is a `real' and
`growing' ballistic missile threat to the United
States from North Korea, Iran and Iraq. And he says
those missiles are a greater threat to Russia, which
is far closer to what he calls to these nations.
(Signed)
NEB/PT
26-Apr-2000 15:28 PM EDT (26-Apr-2000 1928 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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