U.S. to deploy missile defense

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 � President Bush said Tuesday he has decided to begin deploying a limited system to defend the nation against ballistic missiles, its first components operable by 2004. Though the first parts of the system will be put into use while more advanced technology is still being developed, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld said it will likely stop �a relatively small number of incoming ballistic missiles, which is better than nothing.�....

www.msnbc.com...