----- Original Message ----- From: Claudia K White <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, August 22, 2000 7:33 PM Subject: [STOPNATO] Missile defense decision soon STOP NATO: �NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.COM --------- Forwarded Message --------- DATE: Tue, 22 Aug 2000 14:27:49 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED],[EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc:[EMAIL PROTECTED] From: "Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:;@mindspring.com;;;> Subject: NMD DECISION UPON US Date: Tue, Aug 22, 2000, 12:06pm X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal ================================ Tuesday August 22 6:18 AM ET Official Expects U.S. Missile Shield Decision Soon COPENHAGEN, Denmark (Reuters) - The United States plans to decide soon whether to go ahead with its planned national missile defense (NMD) program, a top State Department official said Monday. President Clinton is due to make his decision ``within the next week or so44 on the controversial $60 billion project, strongly opposed by Russia and China and criticized by some NATO allies as well, John Holum, under-secretary for arms control and international security, told Danish television news. A U.S. delegation led by Holum arrived in Greenland on Monday for talks with Danish and Greenland officials about using a ballistic missile early-warning system (BMEWS) radar at the U.S. Thule airbase in the north-west of the vast Arctic island, which belongs to Denmark. ``We are going to talk about all the details of the president4s decision that he4ll have to make in the next few days,44 Holum said, according to a video-recording of his remarks available on the Internet. ``There hasn4t been a decision to proceed with national missile defense but it4s something we are actively considering because of the change in the threat,44 he said. Washington says countries it has dubbed ``states of concern44 such as North Korea, Iraq, Iran and Libya may be acquiring the capability to fire long-range ballistic missiles against the United States. Asked to elaborate on the timetable of Clinton's decision, Holum said: ``Within the next week or so.44 Clinton is scheduled to travel to Africa from Aug. 26 to 28. The Thule radar in Greenland is one of five installations that must be upgraded to become part of the NMD, which some security policy analysts believe could spark a new arms race. Defense Secretary William Cohen said last month Clinton would decide by early September whether to keep the missile shield program on a fast track for deployment in 2005, but would leave it for his successor after the November election to decide whether and when to begin initial deployment. The governments of Britain and Denmark, both housing radars needed for the NMD, have said that since they have not received any formal request they do not need to make a decision now on whether to permit Washington to use their facilities. ``We are not asking for them to make a decision at this stage...we wouldn4t ask them to get ahead of our own decision making. What we are looking for here is understanding,44 Holum said, referring to the visit in Greenland due to end Aug. 24. -- Bruce K. Gagnon Coordinator Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space PO Box 90083 Gainesville, FL. 32607 (352) 337-9274 http://www.space4peace.org [EMAIL PROTECTED] --------- End Forwarded Message --------- Angelfire for your free web-based e-mail. http://www.angelfire.com ______________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Start Your Own FREE Email List at http://www.listbot.com/links/joinlb
