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Missile dispute 'threatens Nato' * Call-In * Lawsuit against the Navy's Low Frequency Active Sonar

8 May 2000

The pressure is building for the U.S. to change its position on missile defense. Much is on the line and many in Europe are seeing the larger picture, as noted in the following article in section 1. Perhaps, too, the laying down of arms in Ireland is a good sign. Please support GlobeNet and other campaigns to stop the development of space-based weapons, and support initiatives for sustainable technologies to replace environmentally damaging ones.

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1) Missile dispute 'threatens Nato'

2) GlobeNet International Call-In Days to Oppose Star Wars 1-15 May 2000

3) Lawsuit against the Navy's Low Frequency Active (LFA) Sonar


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1) Missile dispute 'threatens Nato'


http://www.the-times.co.uk (World)

The Times (UK)
May 5 2000


"Many European members of NATO also expressed anger at what they saw as U.S. arrogance and unilateralism with regard to war with Yugoslavia over Kosovo."

Missile dispute 'threatens Nato'

BY MICHAEL EVANS, DEFENCE EDITOR


DISAGREEMENTS between the United States and its European allies on several key issues, particularly Washington's proposal to build a national missile defence system, are threatening the future of Nato, a report said yesterday. Past strains in the alliance had been "manageable" because of the willingness of all members to operate "on the basis of mutual trust", the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies said in its annual Strategic Survey.

The US proposal for a limited missile defence system to protect against potential attacks from rogue states such as North Korea, however, was neither understood nor welcomed by European nations, the institute said. Europe was also "irritated" by the reluctance of the United States to give a clear signal of approval for its plans to develop the European Security and Defence Identity, which would lead to a European rapid reaction force of about 60,000 troops.

"Many European members of Nato also expressed anger at what they saw as US arrogance and unilateralism with regard to war with Yugoslavia over Kosovo," the report said.

The institute added: "The danger for the coming years is that the bridge of communication seems to have broken down and, unless some way is found to reconstruct it, the loss of trust could have a profound impact on the alliance's cohesion."

The biggest illustration that the United States and Europe were "marching to different drummers" was the argument over the American project to construct a national missile defence (NMD) system which would mean modifying the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.

"The US has had little success in convincing its European critics that its plans for NMD deployment are needed, sensible or useful . . . [and] many Europeans do not believe the system will ever work as intended," the report said.

The report added: "There are few in Europe who believe the so-called rogue states are led by men so irrational they would threaten the US with weapons of mass destruction carried on ballistic missiles, even if they were able to do so."

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2) GlobeNet International Call-In Days to Oppose Star Wars 1-15 May 2000

The following was received from GlobeNet's website
http://www.globenet.free-online.co.uk/

From Global Network's Coordinator, Bruce Gagnon --
"International Call-In Days Against Star Wars"

Congress has voted to allow the Pentagon to move forward with the Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) system as "soon as technically feasible". Clinton is scheduled to make a deployment decision on the BMD in June, 2000. U.S. military officials have been heard to remark that while the BMD is supposedly to be used for "defensive" purposes, it's "dual use for offensive purposes is clear." Deployment of BMD would circumvent the 1972 ABM Treaty that outlaws the development of weapons systems like the BMD. Russia and China are urging the U.S. to join them in signing an international ban on space-based weapons. The U.S. has refused to discuss such a ban.

In order to escalate opposition to plans for the weaponization of space the Global Network has called for the International Call-In Days on Star Wars.

Please call the White House and Congress at the numbers listed below during our call-in days. For our friends outside the U.S. we ask you to contact the U.S. Embassy in your country as well as send a message to President Clinton and VP Al Gore. Demand an end to Star Wars and the waste of our tax dollars!

White House Phone # (202) 456-1111
White House Fax # (202) 456-2461
President Clinton's e-mail: president@whitehouse.gov

V-P Al Gore's e-mail: vice.president@whitehouse.gov
Congressional Switchboard # (202) 224-3121

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[Please Note: Flyby News would appreciate information on Global Network's April 14-17 Washington D.C. Conference and Actions from anyone who had attended.]
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3) Lawsuit Against the Navy's Low Frequency Active (LFA) Sonar


On February 29, 2000, Mr. Lanny Sinkin, (representing several environmental organizations) filed suit in federal court to halt the U.S. Navy's preparations to deploy LFA Sonar.

For information on this see:

http://www.ilhawaii.net/~light/lfaindex.html

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