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Clinton Defers Missile Defense Decision to Next President |
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(Source : US Department of Defense ; issued Sept. 1, 2000)
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President Clinton announced September 1 his decision to leave to his
successor the critical decision on whether to deploy a National
Missile Defense (NMD) system to defend all 50 American states against
a limited ballistic missile attack.
In a speech at Georgetown University, his alma mater, Clinton told the
audience that the proposed NMD system as a whole is not yet proven."
Several more flight tests are still needed to help decide "whether NMD
can work reliably under realistic conditions," the president said. "We
need more tests against more challenging targets, and more simulations
before we can responsibly commit our nation's resources to
deployment," he added.
In the meantime, Clinton has asked the Defense Department to continue
pursuing a robust research and development program, saying that the
extra time will allow additional technological progress as well as
more time to narrow differences about the program with the Russians.
In discussing NMD's impact on U.S.-Russian relations, Clinton
explained that pursuing a limited NMD would require the United States
to either amend or withdraw from the bilateral 1972 Anti-Ballistic
Missile (ABM) Treaty. While Russia has agreed that there is an
emerging missile threat that may require amending the ABM Treaty, the
president said there will now be more time to discuss how to pursue
effective defenses while still maintaining strategic stability with
Russia.
In announcing his decision not to authorize NMD "at this time,"
Clinton also made reference to the views of NATO allies, who have all
"made clear that they hope the United States will pursue strategic
defense in a way that preserves the ABM Treaty." Allied support is
critical if the U.S. decides to proceed with NMD deployment, he said,
because "key components of NMD would be based on their territory." By
postponing the NMD decision to the next administration, he said, the
United States will have "time to answer allied questions and consult
further on the path ahead."
Besides allied input, Clinton also addressed NMD and the security
situation in Asia. "As the next President makes a deployment decision,
he will need to avoid stimulating an already dangerous regional
nuclear capability from China to South Asia," he said.
"No nation can have a veto over American security," Clinton stated. At
the same time, he also noted that reactions of others around the globe
do have a bearing on U.S. national security, and for that reason, he
said, "it would be far better to move forward (on the future NMD
program) in the context of the ABM Treaty and allied support."
The president announced his decision after determining that it would
not have "a significant impact on the date the overall system could be
deployed if the next administration decides to go forward." The NMD
system could still be ready for operation in the 2006 or 2007 time
frame, he said, if the next president decides to move ahead with the
system in 2001. (ends)
Click here for additional information about the U.S. NMD
Clinton's Speech on National Missile Defense
(Source : US State Department ; Web-posted Sept. 1, 2000)
Transcript of Clinton's Speech on National Missile Defense
Delivered Sept. 1, 2000 at Georgetown University, Washington, DC
Click here for full transcript (ends)
Fact Sheet: White House on National Missile Defense Decision
(Source : US State Department ; issued Sept. 1, 2000)
The following fact sheet on President Clinton's decision regarding a National Missile Defense system was issued by the White House on September 1. (In the following fact sheet one billion refers to a thousand million.)
NATIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE
The Clinton Administration is committed to the development of a
limited National Missile Defense (NMD) system designed to protect all
50 states from the emerging ballistic missile threat from nations that
threaten international peace and security. In the event of an attack,
American satellites would detect the launch of missiles; radar would
track the enemy warheads; and highly accurate, high-speed ground-based
interceptors would destroy missiles before they reach targets in the
United States.
NATIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE DECISION
President Clinton announced today that the NMD program is sufficiently
promising and affordable to justify continued development and testing,
but that there is not sufficient information about the technical and
operational effectiveness of the entire NMD system to move forward
with deployment.
In making this decision, the President considered the threat, the
cost, technical feasibility and the impact overall on our national
security of proceeding with NMD. He considered a thorough technical
review by the Department of Defense as well as the advice of his top
national security advisors.
The Pentagon has made progress on developing a system that can address
the emerging missile threat. But we do not have sufficient information
to conclude that it can work reliably under realistic conditions.
Critical elements of the program, such as the booster rocket for the
missile interceptor, have not been tested; and there are questions to
be resolved about the ability of the system to deal with
countermeasures. The President made clear we should not move forward
until we have further confidence that the system will work and until
we have made every reasonable diplomatic effort to minimize the costs.
The Pentagon will continue the development and testing of the NMD
system. That effort is still at an early stage: three of the 19
planned intercept tests have been held so far. Additional ground tests
and simulations will also take place.
The development of our NMD is part of the Administration's
comprehensive national security strategy to prevent potential
adversaries from threatening the United States with such weapons and
acquiring the weapons in the first place.
Arms control agreements with Russia are an important part of this
strategy because they ensure stability and predictability between the
United States and Russia, promote the dismantling of nuclear weapons,
and help complete the transition from confrontation to cooperation
with Russia. The Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty of 1972 limits
anti-missile defenses according to a simple principle: neither side
should deploy defenses that would undermine the other's nuclear
deterrent, and thus tempt the other to strike first in a crisis or
take countermeasures that would make both our countries less secure.
This announcement will provide additional time to pursue with Russia
the goal of adapting the ABM Treaty to permit the deployment of a
limited NMD that would not undermine strategic stability. The United
States will also continue to consult with Allies and continue the
dialogue with China and other states.
AN NMD PROGRAM THAT MEETS THE PROJECTED THREAT
Last August, the President decided that the initial NMD architecture
would include: 100 ground-based interceptors deployed in Alaska, one
ABM radar in Alaska, and five upgraded early warning radars.
This approach is the fastest, most affordable, and most
technologically mature approach to fielding an effective NMD against
the projected threat. It would protect all 50 states against emerging
threats from both North Korea and the Middle East and is optimized
against the most immediate and certain threat, North Korea.
On July 23, 1999, President Clinton signed into law H.R. 4, the
"National Missile Defense Act of 1999," stating that it is the policy
of the United States to deploy as soon as technologically possible an
effective NMD system. The legislation includes two amendments
supported by the Administration: the first making clear that any NMD
deployment must be subject to the authorization and appropriations
process, and thus that no decision on deployment has been made; the
second stating it is the policy of the United States to seek continued
negotiated reductions in Russian nuclear forces, putting Congress on
record as continuing to support negotiated reductions in strategic
nuclear arms, reaffirming the Administration's position that missile
defense policy must take into account important arms control and
nuclear nonproliferation objectives.
NMD BUDGET
The Clinton Administration has spent approximately $5.7 billion on
NMD, and budgeted an additional $10.4 billion in FY 2001-2005 to
support possible deployment of the initial NMD architecture. Our
current estimate for developing, procuring and deploying our initial
system -- 100 interceptors, an ABM radar, upgrades to 5 early warning
radars, and command and control -- is around $25 billion (Fiscal Years
91-09). But to put that in perspective, it represents less than 1
percent of the defense budget over the coming six years.
JOINT STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES ON STRATEGIC STABILITY
At the June 4 Moscow summit, Presidents Clinton and Putin signed a
Joint Statement of Principles on Strategic Stability. The Principles
state that the international community faces a dangerous and growing
threat of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means
of delivery, including missiles and missile technologies, and that
there is a need to address these threats, including through
consideration of changes to the ABM Treaty. The Principles also record
agreement to intensify discussions on both ABM issues and START
(Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) III.
JOINT STATEMENT ON COOPERATION ON STRATEGIC STABILITY
The United States has made clear to Russia that we are prepared to
engage in serious cooperation to address the emerging ballistic
missile threat and have identified a number of specific ideas for
discussion. At the June 4 Moscow Summit, Presidents Clinton and Putin
signed an agreement to establish a Joint Center for exchanging early
warning data on missile launches; they also agreed to explore more
far-reaching cooperation to address missile threats.
On July 21 in Okinawa, Presidents Clinton and Putin issued a Joint
Statement on Cooperation on Strategic Stability, which identifies
specific areas and projects for cooperation to control the spread of
missiles, missile technology and weapons of mass destruction. (ends)
NATO Secretary-General On NMD Decision
(Source : NATO ; issued Sept. 1, 2000)
Statement by the Secretary General of NATO
The decision of the United States to continue testing and development of a limited National Missile Defence system, while reserving judgment on eventual deployment, appears to be a prudent course of action that balances the many factors involved in this issue.
At every stage, the United States has consulted extensively at NATO about its assessment of ballistic missile threats, the options it is considering for a National Missile Defence system, and the implications for arms control and nuclear deterrence.
These are complex issues and I believe all NATO Allies have benefitted from these exchanges. I know the United States intends to continue with such consultations in the future and I welcome that commitment to maintaining an open and constructive dialogue within NATO. (ends)
Cohen On National Missile Defense Decision
(Source : US Department of Defense ; issued Sept. 1, 2000)
Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen today released the following statement:
"The President's choice to defer a deployment decision on a National Missile Defense system to his successor involved many factors. Central for me, as I have stated publicly, is the importance of sustaining a solid national consensus not only on the need for an NMD system but on the scope and structure of such a system.
"The President's statement today underscores the importance of having the next President fully involved in decisions regarding the future of the program before committing the U.S. to a deployment strategy. I support this approach.
"I have noted on many occasions that several emerging threats warrant the deployment of an effective missile defense program as soon as technologically feasible and I will work closely with my successor on providing all appropriate information. In the meantime, we will aggressively proceed with the developmental testing program and also continue our consultations with the Congress, our allies, and with Russia." (ends)
White House Briefing On National Missile Defense
(Source : White House via US State Dept. ; issued Sept. 1, 2000)
U.S. National Security Advisor Samuel R. Berger told reporters at the White House September 1 that the technology for a National Missile Defense "is promising but unproven" and "we have to be cleared-eyed about this."
He said the administration simply has "not obtained the information that would allow us to conclude that the system is technologically feasible, operationally effective and can work reliably under realistic conditions."
There are critical elements of the program that have yet to be tested, like the intercept booster. And there are questions to be resolved about the ability of the system to deal with countermeasures, decoys," said Berger.
"We believe," he said, "that the problems encountered in the two most recent tests, where we failed to achieve an intercept, presumably can be corrected, but more time is needed and information is needed to confirm ... that this is possible."
Click here for full transcript of Berger's Sept. 1 press briefing at the White House (ends)
Albright Statement on Presidential Decision on NMD
(Source : US State Dept. ; issued Sept. 1, 2000)
U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright says President Clinton's
decision not to commit now to deployment of a national missile defense
"will give us more time to press ahead on several diplomatic fronts."
The United States, she said, is "working hard with other countries to
counter the proliferation of missiles and missile technology,
including efforts to end the missile programs in North Korea, Iran,
and Iraq.
"These efforts," Albright said, "have our highest priority."
Following is the statement by State Department spokesman Richard Boucher:
The President's decision not to commit now to deployment of a national
missile defense will give us more time to press ahead on several
diplomatic fronts. The decision to continue development and testing of
a national missile defense system, but not commit this country to
deployment until we can be confident in its technical and operational
effectiveness, will enhance the security of all Americans.
We are working hard with other countries to counter the proliferation
of missiles and missile technology, including efforts to end the
missile programs in North Korea, Iran, and Iraq. These efforts have
our highest priority.
We will also continue to work with Russia on our ideas for further
reductions in nuclear forces, and for updating the Anti-Ballistic
Missile (ABM) Treaty to allow us to work together in countering new
threats and at the same time preserve the stability and security
benefits of the ABM Treaty.
As we proceed we are consulting closely with our NATO and Pacific
allies on the new threats and on our strategy to counter these threats
through non-proliferation diplomacy and military deterrence, and
development of the capability to add a limited missile defense system. (ends)
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