DATE=9/1/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON-MISSILE DEFENSE (L)
NUMBER=2-266061
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: President Clinton has announced he is leaving
a decision on whether the United States will deploy a
missile defense system to his successor. The proposed
system -- aimed against missiles fired by countries
like Iraq or North Korea -- enjoys strong Republican
support but is opposed by Russia and some U-S allies.
V-O-A's David Gollust reports from the White House.
TEXT: Mr. Clinton is not killing the national missile
defense, or N-M-D, program altogether. Flight testing
and other development efforts will continue. But
there will be no ground-breaking on the proposed radar
complex in the Aleutian Islands off Alaska that is
essential to early deployment.
In an address at Washington's Georgetown University,
Mr. Clinton cited recent test failures and diplomatic
complications as reasons for deferring a deployment
decision:
/// Clinton Act ///
We have made progress, but we should not move
forward until we have absolute confidence that
the system will work, and until we have made
every reasonable diplomatic effort to minimize
the cost of deployment and maximize the benefit
-- as I said -- not only to America's security
but to the security of law-abiding nations
everywhere subject to the same threat
/// End Act ///
Mr. Clinton said deployment of a workable system is
still six or seven years away, so his decision would
not materially delay it if the next president decides
to go ahead.
But he said it will allow more time to work out
differences with -- among others --Russia, which views
the U-S program as a violation of the 1972 Anti-
Ballistic Missile, or A-B-M, treaty and fears it will
undermine nuclear deterrence.
The president's address at Georgetown -- where he
received an undergraduate degree three decades ago --
seemed in large part a lecture to Republicans and
other ardent supporters of missile defense about the
diplomatic problems of going forward.
He noted that some U-S NATO allies share Russia's view
about the system and its implications for the A-B-M
treaty.
And he said his successor should also consider what he
termed an "already dangerous" nuclear situation in
Asia -- where he said China could substantially
increase its nuclear forces in order to be able
overwhelm a U-S defense system, and where India and
Pakistan might step up nuclear efforts in response to
a Chinese buildup:
/// Clinton Act Two ///
The next president may, nevertheless, decide
that our interests in security in the 21st
century dictate that we go forward with N-M-D.
But we can never afford to overlook the fact
that the actions and reactions of others in this
increasingly interdependent world do bear on our
security. Clearly it would be far better to
move forward in the context of the A-B-M treaty
and allied support. Our efforts to make that
possible have not been completed.
/// End Act ///
Mr. Clinton said he hopes he can narrow U-S-Russian
differences on the issue next week when he meets
Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of
the United Nations Millennium summit.
Officials here say Mr. Clinton made his decision after
reviewing recommendations from Defense Secretary
William Cohen and other senior advisers on various
factors -- including the cost of the program,
estimated at 60-billion dollars if it goes forward to
completion.
Mr. Clinton said the threat of a missile attack from a
so-called rogue state is only one of many dangers
facing the United States, and that it must also focus
on alternate means to deter, pre-empt and otherwise
deal with potential attacks by terrorists and others.
He said it would be "folly" to base the nation's
defense solely on a strategy of waiting until a
missile is in the air and trying to shoot down.
(Signed)
NEB/DAG/JP
01-Sep-2000 13:26 PM LOC (01-Sep-2000 1726 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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