Mike Levin: “There are other important cooperative security arrangements with Russia that we have built upon and we have created. We…”

“There are other important cooperative security arrangements with Russia that we have built upon and we have created. We have built, finally, some trust and some confidence between our two militaries. Our Defense Department does not view Russia as an adversary, but as a partner in cooperative security. Take a look at what is happening in Bosnia, where we have Russian soldiers under U.S. command in the implementation force. Take a look at what has happened with the United States and Russian de-targeting of our nuclear missiles, where no longer are missiles on either side targeted on the other's nations. If we threaten unilaterally to violate the ABM Treaty, as the Defend America Act does, it could play right into the hands of those in Russia who want to return to a hostile relationship. By committing to build the system, by making that commitment now to build a system by the year 2003, the Defend America Act also locks us into possibly the least capable technology. That is another thing that the Pentagon is not agreeing with. They want to develop the technology and, if and when a decision needs to be made, to utilize the best technology that is available.”