In June, President Bill Clinton will decide if the time is right to deploy a limited national missile defence system to provide some protection by 2005.
The president’s decision will be based on an evaluation of whether the threat has developed sufficiently to warrant deployment. It will also consider assessments of current technical feasibility, the likely cost and wider strategic implications. In this latter category, the Clinton administration is seeking to re-negotiate with Russia the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty, which strictly limits the type, location and number of strategic missile interceptors deployed by both sides.
