HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------- Wednesday, 24 July, 2002, 13:42 GMT 14:42 UK
'Historic' deal on missile
system
Political opposition to the project is
weaker
Top aerospace company executives from the US and Europe have hailed as historic a deal to co-operate on a global missile defence system. The deal, involving US giant Boeing and the European Aeronautic Defence and Space company (EADS), is designed to pave the way for joint US and European development of a global system of missile defence. That could, in turn, profoundly change the nature of warfare and even the foundations of international relations.
Other American allies, including Israel and Japan, also have collaborations with Boeing which could be developed. Russia also wants to be involved. These important business deals are happening now because limits on exchanging technology on missile defence have been removed with the scrapping of the US-Russia Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty.
The US is proposing that its planned missile shield would be extended to give protection to its allies around the world. Boeing, which is receiving massive funds from the US Government to develop the missile shield technology, has worked out framework accords with EADS, as well as with Britain's BAe Systems and Italy's Finmeccanica. American and Danish officials are meeting on Wednesday in Copenhagen to discuss possible European participation in the international system. Weakened opposition When US President George W Bush declared his intention to press ahead with the missile defence plan, US allies in Europe were lukewarm or openly hostile. Lately, that criticism has been muted. Some US allies are still worried about the likely effectiveness of the missile shield idea and none has given formal backing. But the prospect of big high-technology contracts, as well as worries about being left out of such a hugely ambitious project, are likely to weaken political opposition to it. --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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