Rep. Edward Royce, left, R-Calif., chairman of the Congressional Subcommittee on International Terrorism and Nonproliferation
Photo: AP
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U.S. Congress Shows Growing Opposition to East Europe’s Missile Shield
Lawmakers of the democratic-led U.S. Congress manifest growing opposition to plans of President Bush to deploy a missile shield in Eastern Europe.
Critical lawmakers in two U.S. House of Representatives subcommittees focused on building a missile defense shield in Eastern Europe next day after another House subcommittee voted unanimously against appropriating $160 million to deploy 10 missile interceptors in Poland. The overall amount sought by the president was $310 million and the funding could be restored either in the Senate or in the House.
Democratic lawmakers suppose Russia and Iran might close ranks should the interceptors be deployed. According to Congressman Brad Sherman, there is no better way to force Russia stop opposing the nuclear program of Iran than stationing the U.S. interceptors on the soil of its former allies.
But in the Bush administration, they obviously think different. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried said the missiles to be deployed in Eastern Europe aren’t capable of opposing hundreds of Russia’s missiles and thousands of their warheads and the Russians are well-aware of it.
www.kommersant.com
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