DATE=2/14/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=MISSILE DEFENSE / PROTEST (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-272594

BYLINE=PURNELL MURDOCK

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

INTERNET=

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Anti-nuclear groups and several Congressional leaders have rallied in Washington to protest the Bush administration's plans to develop an anti-missile defense system. V-O-A's Purnell Murdock reports from Washington.

TEXT: /// ACT OF DEMONSTRATORS CHANTING ///

Dozens of angry protesters marched in front of the Ronald Reagan government building Wednesday shouting slogans and carrying placards denouncing President Bush's plan for a missile defense system.

The demonstration coincided with a meeting of weapons industry executives and government officials to discuss the multi-billion dollar plan.

The central idea is to create special interceptor missiles that can shoot down any incoming ballistic missile launched against the United States. President Bush promised such a system as part of his plan to modernize U-S defense.

Protest organizer Gordon Clark, Executive Director of the non-profit group Peace Action, says the plan has several drawbacks. But he says the greatest concern is how other nations will respond to the development of such a system.

/// CLARK ACT ///

It's a huge waste of taxpayer money. It doesn't work, it won't work and the only thing it might conceivably do is start a new arms race.

/// END ACT ///

Russia, China and several U-S allies have expressed concerns that deploying the missile defense system will violate the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and undermine other arms control agreements.

President Bush says the missile defense will enhance global stability.

The idea of creating a space-based missile defense system began in the 1980's during the Reagan administration. Then, the primary concern was a missile attack by the Soviet Union or its allies. Many experts say today's threat comes not so much from an airborne attack, but rather by terrorists smuggling a nuclear weapon inside the United States.

U-S Democratic Party Congressman Maurice Hinchey, who spoke at Wednesday's protest rally, said there must be new thinking to go along with the new threat.

/// HINCHEY ACT ///

This is just a bad idea. It's the wrong idea at the wrong time. We ought to be dealing with the problems of the 21st century rather than what this solution would be to problems of the mid 20th century. We've passed that period in history. We've got to deal with problems of today.

/// END ACT ///

Congressman Hinchey and other opponents say the best defense against any nuclear threat is non-proliferation. They say the Bush administration should find other uses for the more than 100 billion dollars a new defense system would cost.

But Mr. Hinchey says despite the opposition, Mr. Bush's dream of a new missile defense system could become a reality. The plan enjoys widespread support in the Republican controlled House and Senate. (signed)

NEB/WPM/KBK