Free Republic

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States and one of its key Asia-Pacific allies, Australia, agreed to develop a controversial missile defense shield to deter and protect against countries having access to ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction. Canberra also agreed to allow the United States to have a key military training center in Australia following annual talks between their foreign and defence ministers in Washington. A memorandum of understanding to develop a system to defend the two countries from missile attacks was signed by US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and his Australian counterpart Robert Hill. Rumsfeld told reporters that...