``Despite of Russia’s Opposition, U.S. Drives Forward the Missile Defense System``

United States repeatedly clarified on 17th that although there has been concerns and criticism on its Missile Defense System (MDS) during President George W. Bush’s visit of European countries and summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, they will push ahead the MDS.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell made it clear during a TV interview with the Fox TV and ABC. that when their technology is ready to build the MDS, they will cancel out the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty that entered into an agreement with former Soviet Union in 1972.

Secretary Powell said, ``we will get out of the constraints of the treaty when those constraints do not allow us to move forward with our technology``.

He also said, ``it has not been decided when we will nullify the treaty, but it will be when Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfelt decides and reports to President Bush``.

He added that Bush has a conviction that they cannot be restrained by the ABM treaty which was based on the strategic condition of 30 years ago.

Condoleezza Rice, the president`s national security adviser, said Sunday during an interview with NBC, ``the ABM treaty is a relic from an era marked by implacable hostility, and we believe it’s time to move into a new era``.

Security advisor Rice also said, ``although U.S. wants to push forward the MDS while Russia blesses it, no matter how Russia react on the system, we will drive it forward``. ``We must do it for peace and security and to protect the U.S. and its allies`` he stressed.

However, Sen. Joseph R. Biden, the Foreign Relations Committee chairman, argued on NBC that, ``I also support continual development and testing of the MDS, but, we should be adjusting the ABM treaty, not scrapping it``.

Chairman Biden pointed out by saying, ``if the ABM treaty is nullified, China, who currently has 18 intercontinental ballistic missiles, will soon posses 300 ~ 400 nuclear warheads. And India will follow China, and Japan, too, would be armed with the nuclear power within five years accelerating arms race among countries``.

Although President Bush asserted the need of the MDS during his visit to the European countries, Germany and France made their opposition clear, concerned about the armed race.

Russian President Putin also warned during the summit between U.S. and Russia on 16th saying that if U.S. go with their unilateral plan, the relationship between two countries will be damaged.

Han Ki-Heung eligius@donga.com