Report: Cohen Backs Missile Shield Program

W A S H I N G T O N, Aug. 6 -- Defense Secretary William Cohen willrecommend to President Clinton later this week that he keepalive the controversial U.S. National Missile Defense nuclearshield program for this year, the Washington Post reportedtoday.

Cohen is still working on a formal recommendation toClinton, the newspaper said, but favors a “limited greenlight” approach so defense contracts can be let this winter.

The move would keep alive the possibility of beginningconstruction on the anti-missile program next year after a newpresident takes office.

Late last month, Cohen said Clinton would decide by earlySeptember whether to keep the missile defense plan on a fasttrack for deployment in 2005.

Clinton will, however, leave to his successor the crucialdecision on whether and when to begin initial deployment, Cohensaid.

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The newspaper said Cohen was scheduled to meet this weekwith his advisers on formulating a final recommendation.

Russia and China bitterly oppose the missile shield program,and European allies are nervous that construction will harmnuclear weapons deterrence.

Russia has refused U.S. calls to amend the 1972Anti-ballistic Missile Treaty so the United States can go aheadand begin building what it calls a limited defense againstfuture missile attack by states such as North Korea, Iran andIraq.

U.S. government lawyers have advised Clinton that the UnitedStates would not be in violation of the treaty until the actualconstruction of rails on which a new radar installation inAlaska would move.