11.   Bush unexpectedly welcomed the idea of a rapid reaction force in Europe, despite concerns that it could detract from the power of NATO.

12.   But their plans to create a rapid reaction force may really be to prepare for the pullout of Western forces.

13.   European diplomats said the military situation in Bosnia continued to escalate, as they pressed ahead with plans to create a United Nations rapid reaction force in the region.

14.   He insists the redeployment is simply a training exercise to ready his troops for the rapid reaction force.

15.   In practice, they said, close air support would be provided by helicopter gunships from the rapid reaction force rather than by NATO planes.

16.   In the debate over both the missile shield and the rapid reaction force, Blair finds himself caught in the middle.

17.   Instead NATO units already in Europe would be trained as rapid reaction forces that could deploy quickly to help new allies in a crisis.

18.   It will strengthen its rapid reaction forces with two new super-carriers, attack helicopters, amphibious machinery and Harrier jump jets.

19.   Military officials are just now coming to grips with what a rapid reaction force ought to be capable of doing.

20.   Most of the rapid reaction force in Bosnia is now operational, with troops mostly from France and Britain.