BBC News Online: World: Americas

Death throes of ABM treaty

President Bush insists missile defence will go ahead

The US announcement of an aggressive programme for the development and testing of a multi-layered missile defence system should surprise no-one.

Ever since President George W Bush entered the White House, US spokesmen have been insisting that missile defence would go ahead despite critics abroad and doubters at home.

Whatever its fundamental views on missile defence, Russia remains resolutely opposed to any unilateral US action.

But this announcement is also likely to stimulate the debate inside the United States.

Key Democrats remain sceptical, urging a cautious and deliberate approach to research and testing - a view shared, according to the opinion polls, by a majority of ordinary Americans.

The Bush team is signalling that it is now full speed ahead.

But the political, diplomatic and technical hurdles confronting missile defence remain immense.