June 4, 2000

Russian President Putin Samples Star Wars Lite: Yuck

Star Wars lite, proposed by President Clinton, is being sampled by Russian President Vladimir Putin this weekend in Moscow. His reaction so far is “yuck” – an opinion not needing an interpreter.

Clinton is seeking a legacy breakthrough for himself and a political boost for Al Gore. The latter is struggling to catch up with George W. Bush in the election sweepstakes.

Bush surged ahead last week with a proposal to strengthen the United States missile defense capability and include “our friends and allies.”

“It is time to leave the Cold War behind and defend against the new threats of the 21st century – from rogue states, terrorist groups and other adversaries seeking weapons of mass destruction,” says Bush.

Al Gore responded by embracing the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) system of mutually assured destruction (MAD) engineered 30 years ago. “The ABM Treaty is the cornerstone of strategic stability in our relationship with Russia,” Gore declared.

Our NATO buddies aren’t sure they want to be saved any further than they now are. Russia might try to re-enter the arms race with aging, unstable nuclear missiles -- and with old, communist generals in charge.

According to opinion polls, however, Americans like Bush’s approach of sharing defense with allies. This includes Israel, Taiwan, Korea and Japan, as well as Europe, against “rogue nations.”

Clinton doesn’t have to be hit on the head with a 2x4 to get his attention concerning polls. He told the Portuguese on the first stop of his European hegira, “I have always said we should include our friends in a new defense system.”

When reporters back home asked the White House to cite instances of such a statement by Clinton, aides couldn’t find one. No matter. Good ideas have a thousand fathers.

Putin should be cut some slack, considering his perilous problems. He’s trying to bring stability to his seriously troubled country.

The world was surprised, and pleased, when the State Duma a couple of months ago ratified the long-pending Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START II). The U.S. Senate also has sat on the treaty, waiting for a favorable signal from Russia.

Simultaneously, Putin announced he was unilaterally cutting a thousand nuclear rockets from the Russian arsenal. He urged the U.S. to do likewise.

This was a face-saving gesture intended to mask the fact that Russia’s nuclear weapons are deteriorating rapidly and not being replaced because of the pitiful economy.

Bush asserts it is irresponsible for a lame-duck president to try and “tie the hands” of an incoming president. This is justifiable criticism, but it overlooks Clinton’s harmless intent to simply look good as he leaves office.

Nothing Clinton does now in the foreign relations field is binding. The Senate must approve any treaty, and the Congress as a whole must act on any lasting effect. There is barely enough time remaining in the current session to dispose of essential appropriation bills.

Even if this was not so, the Republican majority would ignore Clinton’s grand standing ploys.

Nevertheless, the next Congress and president should evaluate the rapidly changing situations in a shrinking world of inter-dependent countries.

Iraq has bluffed the United Nations and kept its mass- destruction technology intact. Iran -- with Russian and Chinese encouragement -- has acquired nuclear capability. North Korea has starved its citizens to develop nuclear material and missiles it does not need for any peaceful purpose.

Pakistan and India have nuclear weapons in reserve for their shooting war. China is not openly described as a rogue nation, but it has nuclear weapons and long-range delivery systems and no potential invader in sight.

All this being said, it is appropriate to ask what kind of defense system do we need. A costly space-based Star Wars system -- requiring a bullet to hit a bullet -- is not as important as it once was.

Russia still is capable of delivering a ballistic missile. But, surely, that nation should be convinced by now that the U.S. never had, or has, any intention to bomb the Soviet Union.

Submarine launches are more efficient and cheaper. More likely would be nuclear bombs delivered by terrorists into target countries via freight ships or planes. “Normal trade relations” make all nations vulnerable.

Our main concern should be regional conflicts over political ideology, ethnic differences or religious fervor. These generate hate and revenge terrorism against which there is no absolute protection.

Clearly we need new thinking in Washington, D.C.

PARTING SHOTS

White House aides unable to find any reference to Clinton statements about including allies in our defense system should look in the closet where subpoenaed billing records are kept.

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Rick Lazio, nominee for U.S. senator from New York, fell during a parade and suffered a cut lip requiring eight stitches. Now voters are assured he can’t talk out of both sides of his mouth.

Lindsey Williams is a Sun-Herald columnist and can be reached at linwms@lindseywilliams.org