41.   Bush has endeared himself to conservatives like Paul D. Wolfowitz, the deputy defense secretary, by emphasizing that he wants to hear their views.

42.   But as defense secretary, he also knows that maintaining unneeded bases siphons money from other military necessities.

43.   But associates say that Rumsfeld, whose name has also been mentioned for defense secretary, has not ruled out an offer.

44.   But Congress could use its appropriations power to pressure the defense secretary to reverse himself if there is enough concern on Capitol Hill, the staff members said.

45.   But after Donald Rumsfeld, the defense secretary, said that was unacceptable, Karzai took a harder stand against Omar.

46.   But explosive excerpts from a book citing the papers of a former defense secretary said officers of the Presidential Guard fired the shots.

47.   But critics, including six former defense secretaries, say as the weapons age, confidence in their reliability will decline, unless they are periodically tested.

48.   But it was not until Bush was elected president and picked Cheney to be his defense secretary that the two men truly became friends.

49.   But Saturday the defense secretary said intelligence reports indicated that the Iraqi troops near Nasiriya seemed simply to be awaiting transportation.

50.   But the defense secretary, Orlando Mercado, has said the army will remain neutral in this crisis.