1.   Defense officials had no immediate figures on the proposed reduced production rate.

2.   It is too early to say exactly how many job cuts each agency would absorb, defense officials said.

3.   This means future defense procurement contracts would cost the government less money, defense officials say.

4.   American intelligence and defense officials say that North Korea is developing its own long-range ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons.

5.   An Afghan defense official said Thursday night that Osama bin Laden had escaped the country and was hiding in the mountainous border region of Pakistan.

6.   And defense officials said Cohen would resume and broaden his search for a replacement.

7.   At the time, defense officials sought to dismiss the tape as an aberration.

8.   Bert Brandenburg, a Justice Department spokesman, said the department reviewed with defense officials the information obtained by military pathologists after the plane crash.

9.   -- In Brussels, U.S. defense officials will brief NATO defense ministers Wednesday on planning to retaliate for the attacks.

10.   A defense official said the department is moving promptly to make sure background checks are more thorough and accurate.