Canada to participate in missile defense

[United Press International]

OTTAWA, April 29 (UPI) -- Canadian Prime Minister Paul
Martin has agreed to an aerospace early-warning system for North
America, it was reported Thursday.
The Bush administration has succeeded in pressuring Canada
to play a part in the warning system in order to stay on track for
its plans to deploy a missile defense system by the fall, the Globe
and Mail reported.
The expanded warning system will be controlled by NORAD
(North American Aerospace Defense Command), the joint military
organization based in Colorado.
The Canadian government is eager to preserve NORAD's
authority, since it provides the country more control over
continental defense beyond its own military .
The first components of the defense system are scheduled to
be activated in September or October, with interceptor rockets
deployed at Fort Greely, Alaska, and Vandenberg Air Force Base in
California.
Martin will meet President Bush in the White House Friday,
but missile defense is not officially part of the talks.