New York Times on the Web Forums Science

Missile Defense

Russian military leaders have expressed concern about US plans for a national missile defense system. Will defense technology be limited by possibilities for a strategic imbalance? Is this just SDI all over again?

possumdag - 03:49am Apr 27, 2001 EST (#2646 of 2649)
Possumdag@excite.com

Showalter, while you were dreaming of DocStrangelove/MaryPoppings, I was talking to a Japanese lady who tells me that the female foreign minister for Japan is extremely hard working and competent and a candidate for PM next time round - why not?

rshowalter - 05:45am Apr 27, 2001 EST (#2647 of 2649)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

Why not !

possumdag - 05:47am Apr 27, 2001 EST (#2648 of 2649)
Possumdag@excite.com

US firms urge Bush to back Putin's reforms

MOSCOW A US business group urged US President George Bush yesterday to support Moscow's economic reform efforts and not to mix business with security issues.

Mutual expulsion of diplomats and a row over US missile defence shield plans have harmed relations between Washington and Moscow since Bush took power in January, and he has been in no hurry to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. But the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia, which represents 450 firms in Russia, said Bush should keep foreign policy and commerce distinct and publicly back Putin's plans to liberalise the economy, reform an arcane tax code and sweep clean a murky banking sector.

"The main thrust is to urge the new administration to support Russia's effort to restructure the economy," said chamber president Andrew Somer.

The chamber has submitted a set of policy proposals advising Bush to avoid mixing business and security issues, enter into high-level dialogue on trade with Moscow, let Russia follow its reform path and support its drive to join the World Trade Organisation. It also calls for cabinet-level US backing for commercial investors and emphasis on business rather than security as the basis for healthy bilateral relations.

"Commercial relations should properly be viewed as the ties that bind our two countries over the long term, providing stability in the relationship as we work through consistent differences in the foreign policy arena," the report said.

Bush has irked Moscow by criticising its human rights record in Chechnya and its business links with "rogue state" Iran.

Somers said that after meeting senior officials in Washington this month he was optimistic Bush's team would not harm commercial ties with Russia.

"They said Russia is basically not the enemy and that a strong Russian economy is in the interests of the US and a weak one is not," he said.

The White House's declaration of a less engaged line on Russia would not mean abandoning Moscow.

"It means Russia has to solve its own problems, not that the US is ready to withdraw completely," Somers said.

Russia's lower house of parliament yesterday ratified an international convention on fighting money-laundering, a move Somers said would help Russia's business climate. Reuters.

Apr 26 2001 12:00:00:000AM Business Day 1st Edition http://www.bday.co.za/bday/content/direct/1,3523,837777-6098-0,00.html

rshowalter - 06:49am Apr 27, 2001 EST (#2649 of 2649)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

Very sensible !

New York Times on the Web Forums Science Missile Defense