The President has now decided to end the diplomatic effort.

The North Koreans admitted that they have a secret uranium-based nuclear program, in contravention of four existing agreements.

Regardless of what the positions are that Americans take and under what conditions we should initiate an attack, there is going to be total unity in this country.

But you did not have an intent. As I understand.

Do you know what its intent is? Have you asked the people who put the language in here what its intent is?

I have been one that is more than willing to look at that as an option, but I just do not want to mislead my good friend from Kansas by my silence.

We know that the debate about whether to go to war and if so, whether we should go with or without authorization of the United Nations, is part of a debate in a democratic society.

I want to just ask General Shinseki about his reference to the missile defense system.

Prior to the decision to deploy, did Secretary Rumsfeld ask you for advice regarding the military utility of the national missile defense system as it would exist in 2004?

I think these proposals, taken together or separately, would undermine the ability of the uniformed military to provide independent military advice to the civilian leadership, to the executive branch, and to Congress.

the absence of a long-range target that will be able to exercise the Cobra Dane radar will preclude a system-level flight test of the 2004 national missile defense system.

So are you saying that if we make a proposal along this line it would be for patrols in a non-hostile environment?

I also believe very firmly that the Iraqi leaders should not infer from these debates that America will not be united in support of its forces in the field.

They are focused on their duty and their mission, and that they are aware of the fact that should they be called upon to go to war, that they will have the 100 percent support of the American people.

It is too mushy from the public accountability perspective.

It is very clear that his role, then, is not only significant but growing.

I do not see how we are going to accomplish those important aims without doing that.

The Northern Border receives about two-thirds of the truck traffic, about 85 percent of the trains.