71.   All the while, Americans are at odds with themselves over a missile defense.

72.   Both leaders also broke a three-year impasse over development of missile defenses designed to protect deployed troops.

73.   Both Russia and China adamantly oppose the plan to build a national missile defense because they consider it a threat to their own nuclear deterrent.

74.   Bush apparently has not yet called Vladimir V. Putin, the Russian president, who has vociferously opposed a unilateral American decision on missile defense.

75.   Building a missile defense against North Korea at the cost of a new nuclear arms race with Russia would make little sense.

76.   Building a national missile defense would, however, require abandoning or altering the treaty with Russia, something the Russian government opposes.

77.   Bush also said he will make his case for missile defense to Russian President Vladimir Putin when the two men meet Saturday in Slovenia.

78.   Bush proposes to negotiate a new nuclear framework with Russia before then, but he will not accept any that limits missile defenses.

79.   Bush and Putin were clearly not on the same page Sunday when they discussed missile defenses at a joint news conference.

80.   Bush has already expressed staunch support for missile defense.