Powell said he hoped to win more converts later and would follow though on a promise to consult closely with allies. Meanwhile, he said the administration would press ahead with planning. The Bush administration wants to scrap or heavily modify the treaty, which prohibits the development of national missile defense systems by either Moscow or Washington. NATO officials said they expect to cut about 10 percent to 15 percent in the peacekeeping force of 21,000 - of which 3,300 are Americans. NATO leaders also expressed alarm at rising violence and political instability in Macedonia.
Some people see it as more immediate than others.
Some people see it as greater than perhaps others. But I don't think there's any question that there's some sort of threat out there. Tuesday's vote doesn't make the job any easier for Bush administration officials to sell the plan. Rumsfeld will try again next week when he meets with NATO defense ministers. Russia opposes the missile-defense plan, although it has indicated willingness to talk with the Bush administration about it.