U.S. dangles secret data for Russia missile shield plan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration is leaving open the possibility of giving Moscow certain secret data on U.S. interceptor missiles due to help protect Europe from any Iranian missile strike.

A deal is being sought by Washington that could include classified data exchange because it is in the U.S. interest to enlist Russia and its radar stations in the missile-defense effort, a Pentagon spokeswoman said Tuesday in written replies to Reuters.

No decision has been made yet on whether the United States would offer data about the interceptors' "velocity at burnout," or VBO, said Air Force Lieutenant Colonel April Cunningham, the spokeswoman, but it is not being ruled out.

VBO is at the heart of what Russia wants as the price for its cooperation, said Riki Ellison, head of the private Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, who has close ties to missile defense and military officials.

VBO tells how fast an interceptor is going when its rocket-booster motor fuel is spent and the motor burns out.

With VBO and certain other technical data, Moscow could more readily develop countermeasures and strategies to defeat the system and transfer the information to others, Ellison said.

Ellen Tauscher, the administration's special envoy for strategic stability and missile defense, held talks in Moscow Tuesday with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, including on missile defense, a State Department spokesman said.

The Defense Department, in its response to Reuters, ruled out giving Russia information on either "telemetry" or U.S. "hit-to-kill" technology.

Telemetry involves the automatic transmission and measurement of data from remote sources to monitor a missile flight. Hit-to-kill is the way in which modern U.S. interceptors, such as Raytheon Co's Standard Missile-3, destroy targets by slamming into them.

The department emphasized the Obama administration was following in the footsteps of the George W. Bush administration in seeking missile defense cooperation with Moscow, a process formally begun in 2004.

In keeping open the possibility of sharing VBO information with Moscow, Obama is at odds with Republicans in Congress who have said they will seek to legislate a prohibition on such data-sharing.

Republican Rep. Mike Turner, chairman of the House of Representatives' Armed Services subcommittee on strategic forces, faulted the administration for what he described as "caving" to Russian concerns at the expense of U.S. interests.

"That is why it is important Congress insist on protecting our classified missile defense information, and our right to deploy missile defenses without concern for Russia's posturing," he said in a statement Tuesday to Reuters.

The sharing of such data might help salve Russian concerns about the layered shield being built in Europe by the United States and its NATO allies, chiefly to fend off the perceived threat from Iranian missiles.

Moscow fears the bulwark could grow strong enough over time to undermine its nuclear deterrent force. It has threatened to deploy missiles to overcome the shield and potentially target missile defense installations such as those planned in NATO members Poland and Romania.

The Defense Department, in its reply to Reuters, said the sharing of classified U.S. data is subject to an interagency group known as the National Disclosure Policy Committee, which evaluates requests for dealing with other governments.

Bradley Roberts, a deputy assistant secretary of defense, told Turner's committee last week the United States had been making "no progress" toward persuading Russia to drop its opposition to the shield despite its willingness to consider sharing certain classified data.

(Reporting By Jim Wolf; editing by Todd Eastham)

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Kid Rock rocks out for Romney after secret meeting

ROYAL OAK, Mich. - It had all the fixings of a Mitt Romney rally, and then Kid Rock hit the stage.

On the eve of the Michigan primary, musician Kid Rock sang a live version of "Born Free," the official campaign song of the Romney campaign and a song that, until tonight, has only been heard in its recorded version, blaring through speakers at events from New Hampshire to Iowa to South Carolina, and everywhere in between.

"The other day I got in my car and I drove out to a home of a fellow that lives in this area, and I asked him whether he might come here tonight," said Romney, standing on a stage at the Royal Oak Music Theatre, surrounded by subwoofers and a drum set, the replica of the debt clock he so often uses to tout his economic dexterity was nowhere to be seen.

"I think you know him pretty well. He's a native son of Detroit, loves Michigan, loves Detroit. He's recently made quite a commitment - he said he's going to raise a million dollars for (the) Detroit symphony. He put a piece of paper in front of me. He'd written down some questions for me. He said first of all, he said, 'Mitt, if you're elected president, will you help me help the state of Michigan?' And I said I would," said Romney, teasing Kid Rock's performance that had only been described as a "surprise musical guest" in campaign advisories.

The odd couple - Romney a squeaky clean family man who obeys the pillars of his Mormon faith,  and Kid Rock, a Hollywood bad boy who has a sex tape and a criminal record - apparently met last week behind closed doors, when Romney went to the singer's suburban Michigan home on February 23.

The meeting lasted for about an hour, according to a campaign aide, who described it as a "warm and friendly conversation" during which the two discussed their "similar interests," including Romney's commitment to Michigan, Detroit and the troops.  Kid Rock recently pledged to play a charity concert to raise $1 million to go toward saving the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Romney has pledged his support of the state of Michigan again and again on the stump.

According to the aide, a representative from the Romney campaign had reached out to the musician, whose birth name is Bob Ritchie, when the Michigan campaign schedule began to finalize, requesting a live appearance after getting permission to play the audio of the song months earlier.

But Kid Rock insisted on meeting Romney in person, the aide said, a get-together that was attended by the candidate and at least one senior advisor. The day after the meeting, February 24, Kid Rock e-mailed Romney on his personal e-mail address and agreed to perform at tonight's rally.

Romney himself characterized the conversation with Kid Rock in his introduction to the singer this evening, recalling how the singer didn't agree to perform until he made some promises too.

"He said, 'If you're elected president, will you help me help the city of Detroit?' I said I would. And then I turned to him, and I said, 'By the way, given the fact that I'm willing to do those things, will you come here and perform a concert tonight for my friends, and he said he would," said Romney. "So I'm happy to introduce a son of Detroit, a friend, a guy who makes great music, who introduces me by DVD everywhere I go - Kid Rock!"

As Kid Rock belted out the lyrics to "Born Free," Romney and his wife Ann stood and listened, tapping their feet, clapping and whistling in support.

Jumping back on stage after the song, Romney shook hands with Kid Rock and the musician kissed Ann on the cheek, the trio exchanging pleasantries as the crowd of hundreds cheered and the rest of the band began to put their electric guitars back in cases, readying to jump on the road for their next gig - -scheduled in a few days in Texas.

Turning to address the crowd for one more time before polls open tomorrow morning, Romney's microphone wasn't turned on, forcing him - after some coaxing from Ann - to take Kid Rock's microphone.

"Not to be confused with the real artist," Romney quipped. "Thanks, you guys. It's great for you to be here. I appreciate it so much. Thanks to Kid Rock. Thank you to Kid Rock and to his band. These guys did a great job. Real kind of them."

"You guys, thank you so very much. We love you. Thank you. Have a great night. See you tomorrow, and a big victory."

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