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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: calgal who wrote (210456)	12/16/2001 12:10:40 AM
From: calgal	Respond to of 769670

India Test Fires Missile, Seeking Air Superiority Over Pakistan New Delhi (CNSNews.com) - India has successfully test-fired an air force version of the Prithvi surface-to-surface ballistic missile, a move that will give it superiority over Pakistan in air defense. The Prithvi P-11, developed by India, has an extended range of 250 km and can reach major targets in Pakistan, including Islamabad and Karachi. Defense ministry officials called the flight of the extended range missile "flawless". The missile has already available to the Indian Army, and the air force and naval (Dhanush) versions of the Prithvi missile are currently undergoing a series of flight tests to gauge their parameters. "These two versions should also be operational in the near future," said an official. There was no reaction from the international community to India's latest missile testing. A Defense Ministry official said the missile range was not big enough to invite international attention, and in any case, he said, it was developed entirely by India. "This is not a new development. We are only improving our existing capabilities," the official said. The testing of the new missile comes at a time when India has lent its support to the US missile defense program. India is presently working on another long-range Agni-111 missile, which has a strike range beyond 5,000 km. The first version of the Agni, with a range of about 1000 km, is about to be introduced into the Indian Army; and the 2,000-km-plus range Agni-II has also entered the limited series production phase, after being successfully developed and flight-tested. Its introduction into the armed forces is planned within a year. Prof Anil Sudhakar of the International Relations department in the University of Jawaharlal Nehru said the launch of Prithvi 11 is part of the ongoing race between India and Pakistan to develop superior missiles. The race escalated when Pakistan responded to India's long-range Agni missile with its own version of Ghauri missile with a range of 1500 km. India and Pakistan with Ghauri are among a small group of countries that possess missiles with ranges above 1000 km and that also possess Space Launch Vehicles (SLVs). However, Prof. Sudhakar noted that India's missile program was indigenous while Pakistan received technology from North Korea and China. Defense analyst Girija Shankar Kaura said the Prithvi missile pales in comparison with other developments on the Indian missile program. For instance India is working on an Indian ICBM called 'Surya' which can go up to 12,000 km. It could be later extended to a distance of 20,000 km, outranging the farthest-firing Chinese missile 4. Other Indian ventures include a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) 'Sagarika' which is a surface skimming missile like the French 'Exocet' and its improved versions. The program also includes an improved version of 'Nag' (anti tank missile) and 'Parakash,' a missile with multiple warheadsto shoot down an AWACS aircraft. Pakistan has contended in the past that India's intermediate range ballistic missile program, capable of delivering a nuclear payload of 2500 kms, shows the "aggressive intent" on the part of India. It has said that India's intentions were not honorable. Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has described the missile program as a 'defensive step,' which was not meant for aggression against any country. townhall.com

To: calgal who wrote (210456)	12/16/2001 12:50:38 AM
From: DOUG H	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

Bush is the first world leader to have the cajones to say what we already know. The will never be peace for the Palastinian people or Isreal as long as Terrorfat is a principal. According to accounts of the president's meeting with Jewish leaders, Bush said: "If [Arafat] can't do what he has to do, then he will be gone. It's as simple as that. We need to see Arafat for what he is." The president told the leaders of major Jewish organizations that Arafat had been pressing the United States in turn to pressure Israel to take a more forthcoming approach toward negotiations. "Who is he kidding?" Bush reportedly said. And he expressed frustration that Arafat has arrested Palestinian militants only to release them later "out the back."