1.   Ivanov proposed multilateral talks to assess the threats that prompted the United States to consider developing a missile shield.

2.   And while the president was abroad, a group of House Democrats held a news conference to denounce the missile shield.

3.   And why can George W. Bush think of nothing but a missile shield?

4.   At the same time, however, Moscow has argued that the U.S. pursuit of a missile shield will undermine the basis for existing and future strategic arms treaties.

5.   At the time, Bush advocated the deployment of a missile defense shield as a protection against nuclear attack, rather than relying solely on large-scale nuclear retaliation.

6.   Beijing understandably worries that an American missile shield could undermine the credibility of its small force of long-range missiles and require it to build many more.

7.   Besides, he argued that America would be reverting to isolationism if it failed to build a missile shield because it would be unable to protect its allies.

8.   Biden said that the decision on building a missile shield was the most significant national security issue that confronts American policy makers.

9.   A missile shield?

10.   Against that background, the Pentagon is reviewing the terms under which it would deploy a strategic missile shield.