Dems try to block missile defense bill

The Clinton administration and its Senate allies launched an effort Monday to block a Republican-backed bill designed to speed development of a system to shield the United States against a nuclear missile attack, the Associated Press reported.

As the Senate opened debate, Democrats indicated they would use stalling tactics to prevent a vote, if necessary. Republican sponsors backed away from trying to move to a quick vote.

The bill, sponsored by Sens. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., and Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, and cosponsored by 48 other senators, would direct the Pentagon to deploy a system as soon as technology permitted.

The administration's present program requires identifying an emerging ballistic missile threat first and then provides for three years to develop the actual hardware.

Critics argued the legislation would commit the United States to deploy a technology that has not even been developed, and could violate arms-reduction agreements with Russia.

Critics also contend the measure would undercut a National Missile Defense program now in place. But Cochran told the Senate, "The administration policy is a wait-and-see policy."

The administration said President Clinton's advisers would recommend he veto the bill if it were approved in its present form.