21.   Behind the scenes, Cheney urged Bush to follow up quickly and unequivocally on his campaign pledge to build an expansive missile defense system.

22.   Beijing in particular stands to pay a high price should American leaders plunge ahead with deployment of the contemplated missile defense system despite its technological inadequacies.

23.   Biden said he would support more research into a limited missile defense system.

24.   Before Saturday, U.S. pilots returning from bomb runs to the Aviano air base in Italy reported little resistance from the Serb air defense systems.

25.   Blair, likewise, repeated his newfound openness to a US national missile defense system.

26.   Both nations fear the missile defense system could undermine the deterrent power of their own nuclear arsenals.

27.   Both men agree for now that Washington should press ahead with research and testing of a missile defense system.

28.   A missile defense system will begin to change that.

29.   A national missile defense system is just one of the options that must be analyzed clearly, so that timely decisions and persuasive programs can benefit our national security.