Bush to deploy NMD by 2004

On May 1 afternoon, George W. Bush, the president of the U. S., will announce that the new plan for new defense system of the U. S. includes the deployment of National Missile Defense(NMD) System by 2004 before the end of his term, reported LA Times. In a press conference at National Defense University in Washington, President Bush will announce to intensively pursue NMD system under the changing circumstances of foreign relations and national defense.

For construction of a missile defense system, President Bush is considering to, at some point, renounce the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile(ABM) Treaty, which banned such a system as a way to prevent a further arms race, reported New York Times. And this newspaper reported, ``Mr. Bush would not discuss the budget, schedule or the likely architecture of a new missile defense system`` by quoting a senior administration official’s saying.

Last year, Clinton, the ex-president, was aiming to deploy NMD system expected to cost about $60 billion by 2005, but a series of test failures convinced officials that the schedule was likely to slip until 2006 or 2007. But the Bush administration moved ahead of a schedule.

``Deployment by the presidential election year of 2004 also has political advantages for Bush, who sought to win favor with conservatives by promising that he would build a system`` prospected LA times.

Meanwhile, President Bush discussed the subject by telephone with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, French President Jacques Chirac, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Canadian Prime Minister Jeam Chretien and NATO Secretary-General George Robertson, said White House spokesman Ari Fleischer.

American ``consultation teams`` are supposed to go to Europe allies and Russia, and to have consultations with them on development of an antimissile shield.

eligius@donga.com