----- Original Message ----- From: Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <mailto:Undisclosed-Recipient:;@mindspring.com> Sent: Sunday, February 18, 2001 3:09 PM Subject: BLAIR CAVING TO BUSH - INFORMALLY Sunday 18 February 2001 Cook at odds with Blair on Star Wars II By Joe Murphy, Political Editor Sunday Telegraph ROBIN COOK and Tony Blair are privately at odds over whether to support President George W Bush's plans for a National Missile Defence (NMD) system. The Foreign Secretary is worried that the proposed "Son of Star Wars" system to shoot down enemy missiles risks unsettling relations with Russia and the rest of Europe. He is arguing that Britain must not give any signal of support for it. Mr Blair, however, is expected to give an informal promise of support this week. The issue will be raised by Mr Bush when the Prime Minister flies to Camp David on Friday for a full day of private discussions. Initial fears that Mr Blair would be pressed to endorse NMD in public have receded after intense diplomatic pressure from Britain. Mr Bush, however, has signalled in recent speeches that he is determined to force Europe to bow to his wishes. Speaking last Tuesday to United States servicemen, he linked Europe's willingness to support NMD with American willingness to continue sharing intelligence. Aiming his remarks at US allies, he said: "We will co-operate in the work of peace. We will consult early and candidly with our Nato allies. We will expect them to return the same. In diplomacy, in technology, in missile defence, in fighting wars and, above all, in preventing wars, we must work as one." According to Danish press reports, Mr Cook struck a secret pact recently with Denmark's foreign minister, Mogens Lykketoft, that neither country would give the US any indication that they were prepared to allow new American radar installations on their territory. The NMD plan requires permission for equipment to be installed at the Fylingdales base in Yorkshire and at a US air base at Thule, Greenland, which is part of the Danish commonwealth. A spokesman for Mr Cook denied the Danish reports yesterday and insisted that the only agreement reached when Mr Lykketoft visited London last month was "that a decision has not been taken yet by the US". Whitehall officials said Mr Cook had warned Mr Blair that Britain would become embroiled in a damaging row with Europe and Russia if it supported Mr Bush. One said: "There is no need to take a position on it since the technology does not yet exist and may never get off the ground." Mr Cook also believes that the system would conflict with the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty with Moscow which the US says is no longer relevant. Last month, the Tories announced that they would support NMD in an attempt to embarrass Mr Blair. Francis Maude, the shadow foreign secretary, said yesterday: "Labour are threatening to undermine the [Anglo-US] special relationship by holding out. Tony Blair and Robin Cook are reverting to their CND past." © Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2000. Terms & Conditions of reading. Commercial information. Privacy Policy. Information about www.telegraph.co.uk. 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]
