US President George W. Bush named a strong proponent of his controversial plan for a missile defense shield to the top military job in the US on Friday, as Washington made it ever clearer that it intended to scrap the main obstacle to the project with or without the help of Moscow.
Bush, signalling his determination to press ahead with the "son of star wars" scheme, appointed air force General Richard Myers as chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, with no secret made of the fact that his embrace of missile defenses helped his candidacy.
"We've been looking for someone who will bring the highest standards of excellence to the office, someone who is willing to think differently about the missions of our military," Bush said. "The fundamental question is how do we conform our defense to the true threats that face America, not only now but in the out-years."
The selection of Myers, who was a fighter pilot in Vietnam, puts in place another piece of the president's strategy for abandoning the 1972 anti-ballistic missile treaty (ABM) with Moscow which outlaws missile defense.
Before appointing Myers, a 59-year-old saxophonist who rides a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, Bush upped the ante by declaring: "We will withdraw from the ABM treaty on our timetable, at a time convenient to America."
The remarks came as the US under-secretary of state for arms control, John Bolton, concluded several days of talks in Moscow which ended in deadlock.
Despite three weeks of intense discussions on the ABM issue involving the US national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, and the secretary of defense, Donald Rumsfeld, as well as two summits in the past two months, the Russian and American positions have hardened.
Myers, a former head of the air force's space command, is currently the vice chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and has been working with Donald Rumsfeld on a study of changes in military strategy.
Myers' appointment will have to be confirmed by the Senate.
New chairman
Air Force General Richard Myers, 59, was nominated by US President George W. Bush on Friday to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. If confirmed, he would be the first air force officer to serve as Joint Chiefs chairman since 1982.
Military experience
Entered the US Air Force in 1965 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program
*Commander of US forces in Japan from 1993 to 1996
*Assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1996-97
*Commander of Pacific Air Forces, 1997-98
*Commander of the Air Force Space Command 1998 until last year
*Vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, from spring last year until present
*Pilot with over 4,000 flying hours, including 600 combat hours over Vietnam
Source: Compiled from AP wire reports
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