31.   For the past two days, the U.S. Senate debated the pros and cons of expanding the NATO military alliance.

32.   France, which actually had a military alliance with Czechoslovakia, eagerly seconded him.

33.   Generals, cabinet ministers and legislators are working on scores of development projects and designing what they hope will be a long-term military alliance.

34.   Foreshadowing possible tension with the Western military alliance, Yeltsin recalled his defense minister from a planned meeting with NATO leaders in Brussels.

35.   He says Hungary should become neutral and stay away from any military alliance.

36.   He said the U.S. should consider entering into a full military alliance with Israel.

37.   He speaks Russian, which may be of use as NATO attempts to reassure Moscow about the imminent expansion of the Western military alliance.

38.   However, I do not mean to imply that military alliances should be perceived as the holy grail for achieving security.

39.   However, the Western military alliance had never planned to accept new members this year, and the actual expansion may not take place for several years.

40.   In a historic move to expand the Western military alliance closer to Russia, NATO agreed Tuesday to ask three former Soviet bloc nations to join its circle.