President Maintains Need for Missile Shield

In a speech at the National Defense University on Tuesday, President Bush continued to maintain that a missile shield in Europe was necessary for the security of the United States and its NATO allies.

The president's stance has angered Russia, causing friction between Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin. In his speech, Bush made sure to reach out to Putin, saying the missiles would not be aimed at Russia.

Bush says the shield is meant as a defense against a potential missile attack from Iran, noting that Russia could easily overwhelm the system.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, in a possible effort to ease Russian concerns, says the U.S. could build the system, but delay activating it until a threat is imminent.