-Caveat Lector-
So the USA is to police the world, Save Israel, and continue to ignore
its own defenses?
Lots of people would like to see the USA let down their guard - like
they did that day in Dallas? You see what happens when Eternal
Vigilence is just a slogan......
Under the Constitution of the United States of American our public
servants MUST provide for the common defense......Remember Pearl Harbor
while America Slept?
Better spend a little time investigation this new EU Army that sounds
like the goosesteps of the NAZI Party ..... for as Waco - there boots
were made for walking all over US????
Are we to dig our own graves in advance?
Saba
U.S. fails to assure skeptical NATO Alliance gives measured response
to
U.S. missile
defense plan U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell listens to
delegates at the NATO Foreign Ministers meeting in Budapest on Tuesday.
MSNBC NEWS SERVICES
BUDAPEST, Hungary, May 29 — U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on
Tuesday led Washington's offensive that aims to persuade skeptical NATO
allies to accept U.S. missile defense plans. But Washington's top
diplomat was unable to convince the alliance's policy-making body, which
stopped far short of endorsing the Bush administration's national
missile shield.
A joint statement issued by the North Atlantic Council
does not portray the possibility of missile attack as a common threat
faced by allies, as the Bush administration had hoped.
Powell had hoped to persuade skeptical NATO allies to be
more supportive of U.S. missile defense plans.
But, according to sources close to the process who spoke
on the condition of anonymity, France and Germany resisted stronger
language sought by Powell.
'CONSULTATIONS' WILL CONTINUE
The draft statement said NATO allies "welcome the
consultations initiated by President Bush on the U.S. strategic review,
including missile defense."
"We intend to pursue these consultations vigorously, and
welcome the United States' assurance that the views of allies will be
taken into account as it considers its plans further."
The nuclear-armed planet MSNBC Interactive•Click here to see
nuclear stockpiles around the world (requires Flash plugin)
In a minor victory, Powell was able to persuade NATO
foreign ministers to omit from the joint statement any mention of the
1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
Last year's joint statement called the treaty "the
cornerstone of strategic stability."
The Bush administration wants to scrap or heavily modify
the treaty, which prohibits development of national missile defense
systems.
The statement was prepared for the North Atlantic
Council, the alliance's top policy-making board, which is made up of
foreign ministers of the 19 NATO nations.
See our special report on Milosevic's reign of terror.
BALKANS FEARS
In addition to presenting U.S. views on missile defense,
Powell also sought to assure allies that the United States would not
pull its peacekeeping forces out of the Balkans, despite comments by
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld suggesting the U.S. role in Bosnia
was near an end.
Tuesday's final statement said it was "not advisable at
this time to consider major restructuring or reductions" in the
peacekeeping force in Bosnia, other than "a moderate reduction in
overall troop level."
"The job is not yet completed," NATO Secretary-General
Lord Robertson told reporters.
U.S. officials had worked behind the scenes for a joint
statement that would cite a "common threat" of missile attack in a
section referring to the U.S. missile defense plan.
That would be stronger than the phrase "potential threat"
that was in a year-earlier statement.
WEAKER OUTCOME
But the United States failed to get the stronger language
included.
Instead, NATO allies promise to consider "appropriate
assessment of threats and address the full range of strategic issues
affecting our common security, and the means to address them."
In the statement, the allies pledge to "continue
substantive consultations in the alliance on these issues."
German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said it was
important that no decisions be made on the missile defense issue until
further consultations have occurred.
A U.S. missile defense plan "must add to our security and
stability. It must not lead to another arms race," Fischer said.
U.S. could buy Russia missiles
At an opening session, NATO foreign ministers voiced
concern about violence in Macedonia and indicated support for only
modest cuts in the peacekeeping mission in Bosnia, said a NATO official
who attended.
The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity,
said the alliance is ready to support only "trimming and minor
adjustment" in the Bosnian force.
Other NATO sources have said they expect announcement of
a cut of 10 percent to 15 percent in the peacekeeping force of 21,000,
of which 3,300 are Americans.
"I'll try to reassure them that there isn't a big split
in the administration" on whether to stay the course in the Balkans,
Powell said in advance of the 19-nation NATO meetings in Budapest —
the first NATO meeting ever held in a city once part of the Soviet bloc.
POWELL CLARIFIES U.S. POSITION
Powell's comments followed suggestions in Washington by
Rumsfeld that the United States was ready to pull out of Bosnia.
Powell said Rumsfeld's comments may have been
misinterpreted. The United States and its allies went into the Balkans
together "and we'll come out together," Powell said. And he indicated
that could be years from now.
Robertson opened the two-day session Tuesday by pledging
to work toward "a more balanced trans-Atlantic relationship."
"This means above all that the European allies must
shoulder a greater share of the burden of maintaining the security and
stability," Robertson said. Robertson said the U.S. missile defense
plan, the situation in the Balkans and ways to curb the proliferation of
weapons would receive "intensive dialogue."
Participants expressed concern over political instability
and ethnic violence in Macedonia, and were drafting a statement
denouncing use of violence by extremists and urging the government to
use "proportionate force" in maintaining order.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this
report.
NATO won't back U.S. missile defense Rout looms for British
Conservatives American student caught in Cold War Ukraine chooses
new prime minister U.S. could buy Russian missiles MSNBC Cover Page
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