Russia's leadership, in particular, has said that going ahead with such a missile program would violate a 1972 ballistic missile treaty and plunge the United States and Russia once again into an expensive, dangerous arms race.

CNN: World waits to see how Bush will handle global issues

Moscow has said a move towards a missile defence strategy would violate the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.

CNN: Powell in Berlin after Moscow talks

President Clinton may attempt to have it both ways: decide this year in favour of deploying a national missile defence, but declare that construction next year does not violate the treaty.

ECONOMIST: Letters

But building the system would violate the 1972 Antiballistic Missile Treaty, and Moscow has not only refused to negotiate a loophole for Washington, but has warned that violating the treaty will void all subsequent arms control agreements and precipitate a new arms race.

CNN: Missile mess will weaken Clinton in Moscow talks

Russia, a vehement critic of American missile-defence plans, says these would violate the ABM treaty.

ECONOMIST: Bush's Korean scepticism | The