41.   British Prime Minister Tony Blair was alone among European leaders in expressing strong support.

42.   Bundesbank President Hans Tietmeyer ratcheted up the pressure on European leaders to resist political compromises that might damage confidence in the planned single currency, the euro.

43.   Bush administration supporters defend the new direction as based on a hard brand of reality that can be expected to rub against the leftist leanings of European leaders.

44.   Bush has promised to consult on missile defense with Blair and other European leaders who have expressed opposition, particularly the Russian president, Vladimir V. Putin.

45.   But as European leaders have challenged the missile defense plan in recent weeks, the issue has risen to the fore.

46.   Bush praised Blair for keeping an open mind, in contrast to other European leaders.

47.   Bush repeated his opposition to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty on nuclear weapons, which has the support of the Clinton administration and European leaders.

48.   But behind the steely statements, aides to European leaders said there was an acute awareness that the escalation of the air strikes had to bring better results soon.

49.   But European leaders in the trade fear the appeal will create uncertainty and that a collapse of the trade would paradoxically create greater problems for the Caspian Sea sturgeon.

50.   But even if European leaders do not raise the issue, many Europeans are determined to.