NIKOLAEV LEADS RUSSIAN OPPOSITION TO BUSH MISSILE DEFENSE
INITIATIVE. General Andrei Nikolaev, the head of the Duma
Defense Committee, has taken the lead in attacking the U.S.
missile-defense initiative proposed by President George W. Bush,
RIA-Novosti reported on 10 May. Nikolaev has repeatedly said
that the initiative is intended to "seal American dominance" of
the world and also provide billions of dollars to U.S. defense
contractors. To justify this expense, Nikolaev said, Washington
must posit bigger enemies, such as China and Russia, than the
rogue states it often talks about.
(Compiled by Victor Yasmann)
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