Someone else’s desk
A RELUCTANT president, a dismissive Congress, restive allies and a hostile Russia and China. The administration's plan for a thin, land-based defence shield to protect America against limited missile attack from a North Korea or an Iran had few friends. The relief was audible when President Clinton announced on September 1st that, after two failed tests, he was putting off preparatory work on a new radar for the system in Alaska. Testing will continue, but it will now be up to a President Gore or a President Bush to decide whether America really needs missile defences and, if so, what kind. Prudent, said America's European allies. “Reinforces stability and security in the entire world,” enthused Russia's Vladimir Putin. “Reasonable,” muttered the Chinese.
This article appeared in the United States section of the print edition under the headline “Someone else’s desk”
From the September 9th 2000 edition
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