US House panel cuts East Europe missile shield funds

WASHINGTON, May 2 (Reuters) A US House committee today cut money requested by President George W Bush to deploy a missile shield in Eastern Europe, with some lawmakers saying there has not been enough consultation with NATO allies or testing of the technology.

Russia views the US plan to base 10 missile interceptors in Poland and radar in the Czech Republic from 2012 as a major threat to its national security. Russian President Vladimir Putin has frozen commitments under a post-Cold War treaty on conventional force levels in Europe in protest.

But the Bush administration says the system is needed for protecting Europe, and US forces there, against missiles developed by Iran. American intelligence officials say Iran could possess longer-range missiles by 2015.

The Strategic Forces Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee voted unanimously to cut 160 million dollar from the administration's 310 million dollar request for the program in fiscal 2008, which starts Oct. 1. They deleted the money needed to start construction of the missile base in Poland, the panel's chair Rep. Ellen Tauscher explained.

The funding could still be restored in full committee; on the floor of the House; or in the Senate. Some Republicans on the panel expressed hopes that the money would be restored, but said they voted for the legislation today because it paid for other projects they supported.

Tauscher, a California Democrat, denied lawmakers were handing Russia a veto over missile defense in Eastern Europe, saying her aim was to delay the project for now while work continues on the ''somewhat unproven technology,'' and while diplomatic consultation continues within NATO.

''Russia cannot veto this, we never give Russia or anyone a veto over our national security interests or our cooperative agreements,'' Tauscher told Reuters after the committee action.

She said the Bush administration had not yet done enough preparatory work with Russia or allies in the NATO military alliance. ''Things have not matured to a level where there is either acceptance by NATO ... or enthusiasm'' for the plan.

Earlier this week Bush defended the missile defense plan for Eastern Europe. ''Our intention, of course, is to have a defense system that prevents rogue regimes from holding Western Europe and/or America to hostage,'' he said.

REUTERS PBB BST0315