Senate Bid to Revive ‘Star Wars’ Falls Short

Senate Republicans failed by a single vote Wednesday in an attempt to require deployment of a national missile defense system “as soon as technologically feasible.” The narrow victory for the Clinton administration came despite GOP warnings that instability in Russia and missile tests by North Korea are posing new security risks.

The 59-41 vote was one short of the 60 needed to end a Democratic filibuster and force a final vote on the measure. It was identical to a May 13 roll call vote.

The legislation would order implementation of a national missile defense system--one intended to protect the nation against intercontinental nuclear missiles--as soon as it is technologically feasible.

A similar version is likely to be debated in the House this month, where it is expected to win approval.

The legislation embraces a scaled-down version of the Strategic Defense Initiative, a space-based defense shield President Reagan proposed in 1983, which also came to be known as “Star Wars.”

The existing Pentagon program provides for three years of lead time once a potential threat has been identified.

Gen. Henry H. Shelton, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made a vigorous plea on the eve of Wednesday’s vote for the measure’s rejection--opposition both sides suggested was a factor in helping to keep it bottled up.

All 55 Republicans and four Democrats--Daniel K. Akaka and Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaii, Ernest F. Hollings of South Carolina, and Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut--voted for the legislation.