Lieutenant General Robert Gard said Canada had nothing to lose by "just saying no" to a role in the National Missile Defense scheme designed to intercept and shoot down incoming missiles.

Some Canadian officials argue that Canada needs to be in the research and development stage of the system because it will be inextricably linked with the two countries' North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

But Gard disputed this.

"I don't think anything will happen (if Canada refuses to join NMD," he said. "The 1968 revision of NORAD included a refusal by Canada to include nuclear missile defence."

Describing national missile defense as a "highly complex system of systems," Gard said: "The integration and deployment of an integrated system runs the risk that the technologies will not work ...

"As of now, no major part of the system has been tested in deployment. The last integrated test was in December 2002 -- and it failed."

The general has led a high-profile campaign within the United States including the signing of a letter by 49 retired generals and admirals urging President George W. Bush to postpone the deployment of the missile shield.

But that appeal has so far fallen on deaf ears and the same fate appears likely in Canada.

Organizers of the general's Canadian visit said both Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew and Defence Minister Bill Graham had declined requests to meet Gard.

Last week, Canada insisted it had not covertly signed up to the US plan -- despite agreeing to extend joint air defence arrangements with Washington to facilitate the scheme.

WAR.WIRE