“As far as I can determine, it’s an idea based on a theatre missile defence system, something of intermediate or shorter-range capability, so it is not a system that could provide protection to the United States, or to much of Europe,” he said.Nato’s secretary-general, George Robertson, struck a more measured tone, anxious not to reject Russia’s offer out of hand, and arguing: “We’re not in a position to evaluate the points made this morning. Questions have been asked and clearly they will be dealt with at a later stage.”The US reaction was underscored by a series of detailed technical objections which Washington says exclude the possibility of the Russian system being an effective substitute for NMD. At Nato, this week the US Under-Secretary of Defence Policy, Walter Slocombe, argued that hitting missiles in the early “boost phase” is more difficult and less reliable than in space, where their trajectory is easier to predict. To be successful the system would need very accurate radar tracking and very swift provision of information to interceptors. With no more than five minutes there would be an increased risk of missing or firing in error against a harmless launch. These, he said, were “non-trivial” objections, adding that while “in principle you could possibly design a system that would overcome these problems, it would take many years”.The Americans also point to the fact that interceptors would have to be located not more than a few hundred kilometers from the rogue missile’s launch site, on the territory of third countries which may demand some degree of control.

There is, he added, a “pretty obvious downside for the US in depending on the co-operation of third countries”.Moscow’s opposition to NMD is a significant obstacle because the project’s development would require amending the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.But the US rejects Russia’s assertion – which was repeated yesterday – that its alternative would avoid the need to change the treaty.Privately, US officials believe that the Russian counter-proposal is a tactical ploy, designed to win support from European countries and make it more difficult for President Bill Clinton to give the go-ahead to NMD in the autumn. However Washington is encouraged that Moscow has implicitly acknowledged the potential threat from rogue states’ missiles.. An american nightclub waitress was looking for an Englishman yesterday after he tipped her $10,000 when paying for $9 of drinks, only for his credit-card slip to bounce. An american nightclub waitress was looking for an Englishman yesterday after he tipped her $10,000 when paying for $9 of drinks, only for his credit-card slip to bounce.
Melanie Uczen, a waitress at the Chicago Leg Room club, was given the gift on Monday after she told David Martyn Nicholas she needed money for graduate school.

But two days later Mr Nicholas’ London bank rejected the £6,600 Visa payment because his credit limit had been exceeded. Yesterday the nightclub manager, Shawn Krutsinger, promised to honour the tip if Mr Nicholas, who only stopped at Leg Room to order three iced teas, did not pay. And he said was instructing lawyers to try to contact the mystery customer. “We are going to give Mr Nicholas one week to make good on his commitment. If he doesn’t, we are going to give her the $10,000 tip.”The Chicago Tribune reported that Mr Nicholas bought the iced teas at 3am for his table. He and Ms Uczen began talking about her plans to continue her studies in psychology after her recent graduation from Illinois University. At that point Mr Nicholas offered her the tip, Ms Uczen said.

The transaction initially cleared – the bar manager even made a copy of Mr Nicholas’ passport and required him to sign a written statement saying “I tipped Melanie Uczen $10,000.”But on Tuesday HSBC, based in London, reported that Mr Nicholas had exceeded his credit limit, according to the club. Ms Uczen said: “Maybe by the time [the transaction] reached his bank he had to buy an emergency plane ticket on his credit card. We’re hoping maybe there was another circumstance and he would like to make good.”Ms Uczen, who has been made into a celebrity by the incident, said she was disappointed to find the transaction did not go through “He was a nice guy. I’ve never been on TV before, which is a wonderful opportunity,” she said.. In the United States, presidential candidates can usually count on the support of their home states, but it may not be that easy for Al Gore. In the United States, presidential candidates can usually count on the support of their home states, but it may not be that easy for Al Gore.
Although the former U.S.