Posted on 05/09/2007 11:02:40 PM PDT by HAL9000
Excerpt -
WASHINGTON, May 9 The Bush administrations proposal to construct two American missile defense bases in Europe has roiled relations with Russia and provoked sharp questioning even in NATO capitals, where critics ask: With the system still unproven and, under the best of circumstances, years from completion, why rush construction now?Now the Democratic majority in Congress is moving toward budget cuts aimed at slowing the administrations plans to break ground this year on one of the bases, in Poland. Representative Ellen O. Tauscher, a California Democrat who is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said the committee would approve only prudent investments in what she labeled high-risk, immature programs to shoot down long-range missiles, like the system advocated for Europe.
The administration wants to begin digging silos for 10 interceptors in Poland and laying the foundation for a tracking radar in the Czech Republic this year to defend Europe against what it calls a looming long-range ballistic missile threat from Iran. But in a vote scheduled for Wednesday, the House committee was expected to approve only a study of the political, technical, operational, force structure and budgetary aspects of the European sites.
The bill, still under consideration late Wednesday, would cut $160 million from funds proposed for construction in Poland, as part of $764 million in cuts from the $8.9 billion the administration has sought for the Pentagons Missile Defense Agency in 2008.
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(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
The Dimrats are now getting in bed with Putin.
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