Congress delivers blow to Bush's European missile project by slashing funding

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2135891,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront

· Bipartisan committee cuts overall defence spending
· President may be reluctant to use legislative veto

Ewen MacAskill in Washington
Friday July 27, 2007
The Guardian

George Bush's plans to establish a European missile defence system suffered a big setback yesterday when a Congressional committee slashed the funding.

The House appropriations committee cut $139m (£69.5m) from the $310m the Bush administration wants for preparatory work on the missile project in Europe. It approved funds for a radar system in the Czech Republic but cut the $139m Mr Bush requested to establish a missile interception system in Poland, the most controversial part of the defence system.

In addition, the committee cut a further $159m from US-based parts of the missile plan.

John Murtha, chairman of the committee, said the Bush administration has "got to convince us this is worthwhile".