----- Original Message ----- From: Rick Rozoff <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, June 24, 2000 1:42 AM Subject: [STOPNATO] Russia Accuses U.S. Of Seeking First-Strike Capabilty STOP NATO: NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.COM Russia accuses U.S. of seeking first-strike capability By JUDITH INGRAM, Associated Press MOSCOW (June 23, 2000 11:32 a.m. EDT http://www.nandotimes.com) - Russian Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev rejected U.S. assurances about the American missile defense shield, claiming that the planned program was intended to give the United States the ability to strike first and destroy whatever missiles Russia launched in response. In an interview published Friday, Sergeyev said that some U.S. officials had the "delusion" that the missile defense shield and future arms control agreements would allow the United States "to destroy Russia's strategic nuclear potential by a pre-emptive strike and interception of the remaining Russian missiles and warheads." The United States has insisted the missile shield would pose no threat to Russia. Instead, proponents say it is necessary to protect the United States against attacks by countries such as North Korea and Iran, which could potentially develop nuclear arms capability within the next five years. Russia adamantly opposes the system, saying it would undermine the foundation of the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed that the United States, NATO and Russia develop a joint missile defense system as an alternative, but he has yet to offer technical details. Meanwhile, the Pentagon is planning a test of the proposed system on July 7 with a planned interception of a missile over the Pacific Ocean. Even if it fails, Defense Secretary William Cohen has said he might recommend development of a system. Sergeyev heaped scorn on the U.S. arguments. "The true reasons for the missile shield deployment are not in alleged threats from rogue nations," he said in the interview with the Independent Military Review. "Apparently, some people in the United States have been trying to obtain strategic domination by achieving a technological edge over the rest of the world and creating exclusive conditions of invulnerability, thus implementing . . . 'Fortress America.' " Sergeyev said that the system, which is supposed to include radars, spy satellites and a limited number of missiles, could be beefed up easily with the addition of more missiles. Its location in Alaska would allow the United States to intercept Russian missiles launched from any area of Russia or from Russian submarines, he warned. "Such a comprehensive defense system will be primarily aimed against the deterrent potential of the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China. Experts from the Russian Defense Ministry have no doubt about that," he said. U.S. and Russian military officials are to continue talks on the missile shield and other defense issues on Saturday in Solnechnogorsk, outside Moscow. The delegations will be headed by Gen. Valery Manilov, first deputy chief of the Russian General Staff, and Edward Warner III, U.S. assistant secretary of defense for strategy and threat reduction. The two sides will discuss a range of military issues, including the U.S. proposal to amend the ABM treaty and Putin's proposal for a joint European missile defense, officials said. ______________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] GET PAINLESS BUSINESS FINANCING! Comparison shop for, apply for, and secure financing from the nation's best-known financial institutions. One short application gets you the financing your business needs. Get the financing you need today at LiveCapital.com! http://www.bcentral.com/fcsponsor/livecapital
