Bush offers Russia hope of missile deal

[Olga_N]

FROM ROLAND WATSON IN WASHINGTON

PRESIDENT Bush offered Russia a leading role in the new world order rising from the World Trade Centre ashes, early today, including a hint that Moscow can share in Washington’s missile defence technology.
Mr Bush promised to press ahead with the controversial missile system, which critics say was shown to be worthless by the September 11 attacks.

Addressing the issue for the first time since those attacks, Mr Bush said that the tragedy demonstrated more clearly than ever why billions of dollars should be spent developing a shield against ballistic missiles from rogue states. He also intended to press ahead with the scrapping of the “outdated and useless” Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty that bans testing that Washington wants to pursue.

September 11 had shown that the “evil-doers” would not hesitate to launch weapons of mass destruction on US soil if they had the capability. “At the very least it should be in our nation’s capability to shoot it down,” he told a news conference broadcast live on prime-time television.

Mr Bush said he was looking forward to seeing “my friend, Vladimir Putin” this month and would continue to argue for a new agreement. “I hope he will join us in a new strategic relationship.”

His comments were the first indication that Washington is preparing to put its dealings with Moscow on a new footing in response to its co-operation in the hunt for Osama bin Laden. They also provided the first evidence of what officials in Washington have suggested: that Mr Putin’s price for support in the battle against terrorism was a pooling of technology.

Mr Bush went on to issue his first direct warning to Saddam Hussein, describing the Iraqi leader as “a very evil man”. The President said he would not hesitate to confront Baghdad if it were shown to be harbouring terrorists. “We are watching him very carefully,” he said.

The prospect of taking on Iraq has alarmed some members of the international coalition against terrorism, and Downing Street has said that the focus of the war is Afghanistan. But Mr Bush made clear he was fighting against “those who support and shield them” (terrorists), and would confront states and governments if necessary.

Asked how long he expected the war to last, Mr Bush replied: “This particular battlefront will last as long as it takes to bring al-Qaeda to justice, whether that happens tomorrow, it may happen in a month from now, it may take a year or two.”

America’s military retaliation would stop if the Taleban handed over Osama bin Laden. “If you cough him up and his people today, then I will reconsider what we are doing to your country. You still have a second chance. Bring him in, bring his lieutenants and his thugs with him.”

Playing down bin Laden’s importance to the wider war, he continued: “In terms of Mr bin Laden himself, we will get him running. We will get him eventually. But success or failure doesn’t end with bin Laden. He’s just one person, apart of a network. And we are slowly but surely, with determination, routing that network out.

“The actions my Government is taking will serve as a go-by for future Presidents and Prime Ministers. It’s important to stay the course and bring these people to justice and show others how to fight the wars of the 21st century.”

He also emphasised the humanitarian effort to help the ordinary people of Afghanistan who face starvation this winter and urged all American children to contribute to a special relief fund overseen by the Red Cross. “We’re asking every child in America to earn or give a dollar that will be used to provide food and medical help for the children of Afghanistan.”

Turning to the prospects for the Middle East, Mr Bush repeated his long-term vision of a Palestinian state — so long as the security of Israel was guaranteed. He said the borders of such a state should be negotiated by both sides.

The President applauded Yassir Arafat, the Palestinian leader, for clamping down on the radical elements in the Palestinian Authority, and he half apologised for being unable to spend more time on the Middle East peace process: “My counter is a little crowded.”

The President also disclosed that he had seen Richard Cheney, the Vice-President, for the first time since the bombing began on Sunday. Mr Cheney has spent the week at an undisclosed “secure location” to protect the line of inheritance to the Oval Office.

He is reported to be “calling the shots” from behind the scenes, but his absence has raised questions about the health of a man who has suffered four heart attacks. In a direct effort to calm such background whispers, Mr Bush said: “I was pleased to see him. He’s looking swell.”

[Ragnvald]

No, pooling of technology is too vague price for scraping the treaty. Russia has enough its own technology, US forces are normally first buyers of every new Russian military gadget.

Let's be more concrete, say 10 bln dollars in cash.
Cash up front, treaty no more.
How's that?