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07/06/2004:
"Australia, U.S. to Work Together on Missile Defense"
ReutersUNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Australia on Tuesday defended plans to help the United States develop a costly and controversial missile defense system, although it faces no current threat from ballistic missiles.
"From an Australian perspective, we are looking well into the future. We don't have any threat against us from ballistic missiles at this time. But the day might come when we have," Australian Defense Minister Robert Hill told reporters.
He spoke during a visit to U.N. headquarters before going to Washington on Wednesday to sign a memorandum of understanding committing Australia to work with its U.S. ally on research over the next 25 years on missile defense systems.
U.S. officials said the pact would cover the development, testing and potential future operation of a missile defense system that Washington hopes will ward off attacks; however, critics believe it may never work and could spark an arms race in space.
The U.S. officials said that in the near term Australia may be involved in developing advanced radar systems that can help detect ballistic missiles soon after they are launched.full article
Launched from China, perhaps??
