US missile shield plan suffers setback
US missile shield plan suffers setback
By Demetri Sevastopulo in Washington
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007
Published: May 3 2007 02:17 | Last updated: May 3 2007 02:17
US plans to install a missile defence shield in Europe suffered a domestic setback on Wednesday after a congressional committee refused to provide funding for development of the contentious system.
President George W. Bush had earlier this year asked Congress to approve $310m to start building part of a missile defence system in Europe, including installing 10 missile interceptors on Polish soil and a forward radar in the Czech Republic.
However, the House strategic forces subcommittee on Wednesday voted unanimously to block funding for the missile installation in Poland by cutting $160m from the 2008 defence spending bill.
While the full House, or Senate, could still restore the money, the move comes at an inopportune time for the Bush administration.
Senior administration officials have fanned across Europe in recent weeks in an attempt both to explain the system better to allies and to reduce Russian opposition to the plan.
Robert Gates, defence secretary, last week travelled to Moscow for meetings with senior Russian officials, including Vladimir Putin, the president, and Sergei Ivanov, the first deputy prime minister and former defence minister.
After his meetings, Mr Gates expressed cautious optimism that Russia would consider co-operating with the US. One by one, however, the Russian officials, including Mr Putin, responded by attacking the US over its proposal.
The Pentagon argues that the missile interceptors and radar – which would be integrated with the nascent missile defence system installed in California and Alaska – are designed to protect the US and Europe from the future threat of Iranian missiles.
But Russia has expressed doubt about the imminence of any Iranian threat and has voiced strong concerns about having US military facilities based so close to its territory. Russian military officers have warned Poland and the Czech Republic that Moscow could target any missile defence facilities they agree to host.
Ellen Tauscher, the California congresswoman who chairs the strategic forces subcommittee, on Wednesday denied that Russia was being given a veto over US military plans. But she told Reuters the US had not done enough to mollify concerns in both Nato and Russia.
“We don’t comment on subcommittee marks, so there isn’t much to say except that we will continue to provide information to Congress on the need for a small number of interceptors and a radar in Europe to protect Europe, the US, and our deployed forces against a long-range missile attack from Iran,” said Richard Lehner, spokesman for the Missile Defence Agency.
By Demetri Sevastopulo in Washington
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007
Published: May 3 2007 02:17 | Last updated: May 3 2007 02:17
US plans to install a missile defence shield in Europe suffered a domestic setback on Wednesday after a congressional committee refused to provide funding for development of the contentious system.
President George W. Bush had earlier this year asked Congress to approve $310m to start building part of a missile defence system in Europe, including installing 10 missile interceptors on Polish soil and a forward radar in the Czech Republic.
However, the House strategic forces subcommittee on Wednesday voted unanimously to block funding for the missile installation in Poland by cutting $160m from the 2008 defence spending bill.
While the full House, or Senate, could still restore the money, the move comes at an inopportune time for the Bush administration.
Senior administration officials have fanned across Europe in recent weeks in an attempt both to explain the system better to allies and to reduce Russian opposition to the plan.
Robert Gates, defence secretary, last week travelled to Moscow for meetings with senior Russian officials, including Vladimir Putin, the president, and Sergei Ivanov, the first deputy prime minister and former defence minister.
After his meetings, Mr Gates expressed cautious optimism that Russia would consider co-operating with the US. One by one, however, the Russian officials, including Mr Putin, responded by attacking the US over its proposal.
The Pentagon argues that the missile interceptors and radar – which would be integrated with the nascent missile defence system installed in California and Alaska – are designed to protect the US and Europe from the future threat of Iranian missiles.
But Russia has expressed doubt about the imminence of any Iranian threat and has voiced strong concerns about having US military facilities based so close to its territory. Russian military officers have warned Poland and the Czech Republic that Moscow could target any missile defence facilities they agree to host.
Ellen Tauscher, the California congresswoman who chairs the strategic forces subcommittee, on Wednesday denied that Russia was being given a veto over US military plans. But she told Reuters the US had not done enough to mollify concerns in both Nato and Russia.
“We don’t comment on subcommittee marks, so there isn’t much to say except that we will continue to provide information to Congress on the need for a small number of interceptors and a radar in Europe to protect Europe, the US, and our deployed forces against a long-range missile attack from Iran,” said Richard Lehner, spokesman for the Missile Defence Agency.
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