Missile Defense Backers Lose in Senate Vote
Supporters of a national missile defense system cited India’s nuclear tests Wednesday as fresh evidence of the need for such a program but failed by one vote to advance legislation in the Senate.
The measure by Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) would have leapfrogged a Pentagon program by requiring that such a system be put in place as soon as technology permits. The existing program provides for three years of lead time once a potential threat has been identified.
But Cochran and other supporters were unable to overcome mostly Democratic tactics that so far have blocked full Senate consideration. The vote on their motion to overcome the filibuster was 59-41.
Cochran did not imply a threat from India exists. But he and other supporters of the legislation pointed to the underground tests as an example of how the United States could be caught off guard.
“As Indian nuclear testing has just demonstrated to us, we won’t necessarily know when there’s a threat,” said Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.).
Administration allies contended the legislation was premature and could violate arms-reduction agreements with Russia.
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