This has obviously been evaluated quite closely by the administration, by lawyers, by the national security team, and that is our position.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

While this might appear to mark a setback for Syria, it has made some important compensatory gains in its relations with the US, Europe and Saudi Arabia, and it is debatable whether Syria's security interests would necessarily have been served by a result enhancing the position of Hizbullah, the Iranian-backed Shia political and military movement that was the driving force of the March 8th opposition bloc.

ECONOMIST: The road to Damascus

And I think the most important point to understand is that his position is the position held by many, and I would say most, credible economists that Social Security is not a contributor to our short- and medium-term deficit problem.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

"That position is dictated by the best interests of trying to support strategic stability, international and national security and prevent a new arms race, " Sergeyev was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying.

CNN: Russia rebuffs Bush on ABM treaty