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Lawmakers reduce funding for missile defense plans in Poland
WASHINGTON (AP) - Lawmakers on Tuesday reduced money requested by President Bush to build a European missile defense system, eliminating funds slated for building an interceptor site in Poland.Negotiators from the House and the Senate left the funding out of a $460 billion bill to finance U.S. defense operations covering the budget year that began Oct. 1, according to Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa.
The bill agreed by the negotiators still needs to be approved by the full bodies of the House and Senate before going to the president for approval, but it is unlikely that lawmakers would make changes before a vote. The lack of financing at this stage could delay construction planned to begin next year at the site for the interceptors, but it also is possible that the White House could find money from other sources. Some congressional Democrats have been skeptical of the missile defense system's chances for success in countering ballistic missiles. They also have questioned whether an unproven system is worth upsetting relations with Russia. Congressional Democrats may be open to restoring the money if Poland's government approves the plan and if the interceptor system is tested properly, according to a Democratic congressional aide. On Tuesday, Poland's prime minister-designate, Donald Tusk, expressed openness to the U.S. plans to build the system but stressed that his nation would also consult its European Union partners on the issue. In Warsaw, Tusk held his first news conference with foreign reporters since his Civic Platform party won the most votes in Oct. 21 general elections and took a cooler tone toward the U.S. missile defense program than outgoing Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski had used. ''If we decide that missile defense will unambiguously increase Poland's security, then we will be open to negotiations,'' Tusk said. Posted by: anonymous5089 2007-11-07 |
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