ABM Treaty:  Congressman Wants to Vote on Treaty Withdrawal

U.S. Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) yesterday introduced a motion on the floor of the House of Representatives saying that U.S. President George W. Bush needs congressional approval to withdraw from a treaty.

The United States should not officially withdraw from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, as it is scheduled to do on June 13, without the consent of Congress, Kucinich said (see GSN, May 28).  The nonbonding resolution states that the president has no authority to unilaterally withdraw from treaties, according to the Associated Press.

“The president is not authorized to withdraw unilaterally from treaties,” Kucinich said.  “This motion ensures Congress’ constitutional duties.”

House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) is expected to decide today whether Kucinich’s motion is in order, AP reported.  If Hastert supports the motion, it would then go before the full House for debate and a vote.

Kucinich, however, has said he might file a lawsuit before the U.S. withdrawal if there is no vote on his motion (Jim Abrams, Associated Press/Yahoo.com, June 5).

For further information, see:

ABM Treaty Text

U.S. Fact Sheet on Withdrawal from ABM Treaty

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Russia:  Space Troops Complete Testing on New Radar System

Russian troops have finished testing a new missile attack warning radar in Baranovichi, Belarus.  The early warning radar able to track ballistic missile launches in Europe.

The “Volga” radar is now operating in trial mode and is expected to enter into full service this summer, the Space Troops’ press office said, according to ITAR-Tass.  The radar will increase the ability of Russia and other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States to defend against missile attack, the press office said (ITAR-Tass, June 4 in FBIS-SOV, June 5).

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Indian Plans:  New Delhi Considers U.S. Joint Defense System

India is interested in cooperating with the United States to develop its own missile defense system, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported yesterday (see GSN, May 16).

“We would be interested in setting up a missile defense system and have agreed to cooperate with the U.S. in missile defense systems,” a top-ranking source within the Indian Defense Ministry said, according to the New Delhi Hindu newspaper, IRNA reported.

India is interested in developing a missile defense system that would be able to destroy ballistic missiles before they are launched, according to Indian officials.  Because a missile launched from within South Asia could hit Indian targets in less than five minutes, India would need to link its own radar system to a U.S. global surveillance system to receive real-time data, according to analysts.

India and the United States have agreed to hold discussions on joint cooperation to help counter threats from Pakistan, according to IRNA (see GSN, May 28).  Indian officials have already received information on U.S. missile defense system designs undergoing tests, and an Indian team has visited a U.S. simulation center, IRNA reported.  India has also been invited to witness the next round of U.S. missile defense tests, according to IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency, June 3).

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