WASHINGTON (AP): The Bush administration's plans for a missile defence
system in Europe encountered resistance Thursday from congressional
Democrats who cast doubt on the technical feasibility of the project and
said it could bolster Russia's ties with Iran.

The hearing before two House Foreign Affairs subcommittees came a day
after the House Armed Forces Strategic Forces subcommittee voted to
delete $160 million (euro117.5 million) sought by the administration to
fund the installation of 10 missile interceptors in Poland. The
administration is requesting $310 million (euro227.7 million) for the
overall project.

At Thursday's hearing, Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried said
testing has shown that the system being proposed works. But Rep. Robert
Wexler, a Democrat and chairman of the European subcommittee, voiced
skepticism about the system because no tests have been conducted under
combat conditions.

In addition to the interceptors for Poland, the administration is
planning radar facilitates in the Czech Republic.

Rep. Brad Sherman, another Democrat, said Russia could retaliate against
the plan by backing nuclear weapons development in Iran.

``We need Russian cooperation on Iran,'' Sherman said. ``I can think of
no better way to ensure that Russia will do very little to help stop the
Iranian program than to stick it to them by putting our missiles in what
used to be their allies,'' he said.

Fried reaffirmed the U.S. view that the system poses no threat to
Russian security.

``Ten defensive missiles would be of no use against Russia's hundreds of
missiles and thousands of nuclear warheads,'' Fried said. ``The Russians
know this.''

But Sherman said that Russian fears that the system will grow ``are not
all that fanciful.'' He added that in private conversations, European
officials have expressed deep reservations about the system.

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``We need Russian cooperation on Iran,'' Sherman said. ``I can think of
no better way to ensure that Russia will do very little to help stop the
Iranian program than to stick it to them by putting our missiles in what
used to be their allies,'' he said.
_______________________________________

allies

yeah right after they (soviets confiscated their country after
WWII) i am not sure i could put much stock in his statements
if he calls occupation allies

but hey what do i know
-------------------------------------

and why should we put missles in europe

if europe wants missles let europe put them there

big bullies trying to run everything

but hey what do i know

I thought that that line of missile defense was designed to hit launched
missiles in the launch phase. The advantage being that that would be at
a time before the separation of the multiple warheads into smaller,
faster-moving targets. Hitting one in launch phase means getting it
before it reaches apogee. Its like giving yourself a second chance to
hit it.

Its a valid point that Russia presumably would have enough missiles to
make the system ineffective against their missiles. However, its a good
talking point when its time for them to argue with our goals.

I don't get the feeling that the European missile shield is only to
protect Europe.

The news that is not reported is the news u should look for. We left
"we the people" along time ago. Are defence system believe it or not is
not from a shi[p or on the ground. This is all a smoke screen. our
missilles in the pacific when korea did thier testing was for our
benifit to brain wash us. The missile that had a capacity to reach the
USa failed "mysteryiously' No one remembers that reagans Star Wars
program never stopped. hOW MANY SECRET MISSIONS DID THE COLUMBIA HAVE
BEFORE THE LAST TRADEGY IT HAD. The imformation is thier if we will just
believe. remember the 1st gulf war. Who knows how many new technologies
came out then?? That we knew nothing about. How fast was your computer
in 91? We are 20 years at all times behind technology. MIT reported in
2001 that in 5 years objects would be transported at the speed of light.
They had stoppped light at that time in a vacuum. Star wars was a laser
system we were working on in the early 80's. You can speculate what I am
saying we can do and have that we are not told. And believe me or not
who cares.. miles

How many know our govt. has a appr. 800,000 acres in Alaska for testing
lighting strikes as a military weapon? Miles