DATE=3/30/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-228963
TITLE=CONGRESS-MISSILE DEFENSE (L ONLY)
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE U-S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SAYS THE PENTAGON
SHOULD GET MORE MONEY TO BUILD UP AMERICA'S MISSILE DEFENSE
SYSTEMS. V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS, LAWMAKERS SAY AN
IMMEDIATE UPGRADE IS NEEDED TO COUNTER A GROWING THREAT FROM IRAN
AND NORTH KOREA.
TEXT: THE HOUSE SAYS IT IS WILLING TO SPEND AN EXTRA 147
MILLION DOLLARS THIS YEAR ON MISSILE DEFENSE.
THE GOAL IS TO COUNTER THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF NEW WEAPONS BY
THE IRANIAN AND NORTH KOREAN GOVERNMENTS. THESE WEAPONS ARE
MISSILES WITH A RANGE OF 600 TO MORE THAN 13-HUNDRED KILOMETERS
-- ENOUGH TO HIT NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES OR AMERICAN FORCES
STATIONED NEARBY.
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WORKED TOGETHER TO DRAFT THE NECESSARY
LEGISLATION. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY
COMMITTEE -- SOUTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN FLOYD SPENCE --- SAYS ITS
A BIPARTISAN RESPONSE TO A RAPIDLY EVOLVING THREAT.
/////SPENCE ACT////
OUR CURRENTLY DEPLOYED MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEMS WERE
DESIGNED AGAINST OLDER AND SLOWER THREATS AND HAVE ONLY
LIMITED CAPABILITIES AGAINST THIS NEW GENERATION OF MORE
LETHAL MISSILES.
/////END ACT/////
THE BILL CALLS FOR MORE MONEY FOR RADAR AND COMMUNICATIONS, AND
TO SPEED UP DEPLOYMENT OF A NEW GENERATION OF "PATRIOT" SYSTEMS
-- THE DEFENSIVE WEAPONS THAT SHOT DOWN IRAQI SCUDS LAUNCHED
DURING THE GULF WAR.
CHAIRMAN SPENCE SAYS THE LEGISLATION IS COMPATIBLE WITH
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS. THE BILL DOES NOT REFER DIRECTLY TO
ARMS SALES BY THIRD PARTIES TO IRAN. BUT CALIFORNIA DEMOCRAT
JANE HARMON SAYS THERE IS DEEP CONCERN IN CONGRESS ABOUT POSSIBLE
RUSSIAN INVOLVEMENT IN TEHRAN'S MISSILE PROGRAM.
////HARMON ACT///
THIS IS PROFOUNDLY DESTABILIZING TO THE REGION AND IT
PRESENTS A DIRECT THREAT TO U-S FORCES IN THE REGION AND
TO U-S ALLIES. TO PROPERLY STEM THIS THREAT WE NEED A
TWO-PRONGED APPROACH: PREVENTION AND DEFENSE.
////END ACT/////
THE PENTAGON SUPPORTS THE MEASURE, AND THE SENATE HAS INCLUDED
THE FUNDS IN ITS VERSION OF EMERGENCY SPENDING LEGISLATION NOW
PENDING IN CONGRESS. THAT BILL -- WHICH SUPPLIES MONEY FOR
DISASTER RELIEF IN THE UNITED STATES -- ALSO PROVIDES THE DEFENSE
DEPARTMENT WITH EXTRA FUNDS TO MEET UNEXPECTED 1998 EXPENDITURES
IN THE PERSIAN GULF AND IN BOSNIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/PW/PLM
30-Mar-98 7:36 PM EST (0036 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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