BASIC MEDIA ADVISORY

9 MARCH 2005

Late News from the Oscars:

Canada rejects role in 'Son of Star Wars' sequel

The 'Empire Strikes Back' by cancelling a visit to Canada

by Condoleezza Rice

Acclaimed British Director, Geoff Hoon, denies hand in long running farce, 'Carry on Keeping Parliament in the Dark'

Even the most brilliant Hollywood script writer would have difficulty in writing a screenplay to do justice to the sorry saga of the US Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) programme.

A working system was due to be deployed by the end of 2004, but there is still no sign of this happening. During the latest test last month, an interceptor missile that would in theory destroy a missile targeted on the United States failed to launch at Kwajalen Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. Similar failures occurred in December 2004 and 2002. The last successful test interception was in October 2002.

The United States has now spent more than $80 billion on BMD since 1985. The Canadian government can spot a turkey when it sees one and has decided to opt out of the programme. In a fit of pique reminiscent of the best Hollywood divas, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice cancelled a planned trip to Canada in response to Ottawa's decision. In an open letter to Ms. Rice, former Canadian foreign minister, Lloyd Axworthy, said:

I know it seems improbable to your divinely guided master in the White House that mere mortals might disagree with participating in a missile-defence system that has failed in its last three tests, even though the tests themselves were carefully rigged to show results.

But, gosh, we folks above the 49th parallel are somewhat cautious types who can't quite see laying down billions of dollars in a three-dud poker game.

Meanwhile, the head of the US Missile Defence Agency has said that he wants to base at least ten interceptor missiles in Europe within the next five years, and has confirmed that the UK is in the running to host the interceptors. UK Defence Secretary, Geoff Hoon, denies that talks with US officials have taken place, and continues to sit on the fence regarding Britain's involvement in the US BMD programme. For more details see 'The Missile Defence Debate Gap in Britain: As Wide As Ever in 2004' at http://www.basicint.org/pubs/Notes/BN050224.htm

To keep up to date with the twists and turns of BMD policy, sign up to BASIC's free monthly email series, Missile Defense Updates. See our home page at www.basicint.org for further details.

To discuss further please contact Nigel Chamberlain (nchamberlain at basicint.org) or Ian Davis (idavis at basicint.org) on +44 20 7324 4680

ENDS