OTTAWA — An American delegation met with senior Canadian officials Tuesday to discuss a proposed U.S. missile defense scheme that has many people concerned about a new arms race.
However, the U.S. government team spent more time discussing the general state of the world than specifics of the missile plan.
Marc Grossman, who led the visit, said these are “real consultations,” not an attempt to dictate to allies.
“The world in 2001 is not the world of 1972,” he said. “The Cold War is over and Russia in not our enemy.”
There are new threats in the world involving the spread of weapons of mass destruction and delivery systems, he said, adding the key is to find new ways of deterrence.
The visit to Canada is the start of many consultations with allies as well as with the Russians and the Chinese.
The Canadian government was reluctant to pass judgment on the American plan Tuesday, saying a lot of details remain to be worked out and there are years of technical work to make the futuristic scheme work.
The proposal involves sophisticated radar systems that would track a few missiles fired by terrorists or an outlaw country and direct interceptors to blast them before they strike.
The project espoused by U.S. President George W. Bush, has raised hackles among some Canadian politicians.
