By Wendy S. Ross
Washington File White House Correspondent

Washington -- President Bush and his top advisors discussed missile defense and the future needs of the U.S. military at an August 21 briefing by military officials at the Bush ranch in Texas.

Among those at the meeting were Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard Myers, Director of the Missile Defense Agency Lt. General Ronald Kadish, and Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy J.D. Crouch.

Following the meeting, Bush told reporters that missile defense, military contingency planning, and transformation issues were discussed.

The discussion, he said, centered on ways to "better protect ourselves and our allies from the true threats of the 21st Century" and to "shape a new philosophy in the Pentagon."

Bush praised Rumsfeld for his willingness "to think differently about how to structure" the U.S. military, and his willingness to work with people in the Pentagon, "to get them to think differently. It's not an easy task, but he can be a stubborn guy. But he's got a vision that is positive for the country," Bush said.

Rumsfeld, thanked Bush for his support, and told reporters that "the cold, hard fact is that the United States lives in a very different security environment today in this 21st century than we did prior to September 11. We have the task in the Department of Defense of seeing that we're able to provide the kind of defense capabilities and deterrents that will enable our country to contribute to peace and stability and to protect the American people.

"And that means we have got to shift this department and see that we have the kinds of capabilities that fit for the challenges and the threats that exist in the 21st century. It's a big job but we've got a good team of people and we're working hard on it."

Prior to the meeting, White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer told reporters that the meeting would be part of the policy planning process, "particularly heading into the budget cycle which will begin in earnest in the fall, heading into the winter months.

"And so the Department of Defense will come down here with an eye toward the big issue of transformation, the big picture point of view," Fleischer said.

He said the topics to be discussed included the 2004 defense budget, the direction of missile defense programs since U.S. withdrawal from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, and Bush's desire to reshape priorities to reflect modern-day war realities.

In a question and answer session with reporters, Bush and Rumsfeld were asked about the type of testing taking place on missile defense.

Rumsfeld said "We're testing a layered program which involves a terminal phase, mid-course, as well as boost phase. It is a program that will become layered. It will start out as a testbed and then evolve over time.

"We've had some very good successes with both short-range missiles as well as longer range missiles, intercepting them. And I feel very good about the program. General Ron Kadish is doing a superb job for the country," Rumsfeld said.

Asked when he expects a missile defense system to be operable, Rumsfeld said "We think of it as a capability that would be broad and be able to deal with relatively limited numbers of ballistic missiles and also medium and shorter range missiles. And the shorter range defenses are more advanced.

"In terms of how long it would take, it's something that really is not knowable, because you're in the research, development and testing phase. And as that continues to succeed and to work out, we then will put things in place and they will evolve over a period of time."

President Bush noted that Rumsfeld "and his team are briefing our friends and allies about progress we're making. That's one of the things I said when we withdrew from the ABM treaty, that we would consult with our friends and allies. And we are. And I appreciate those consultations. I think it's very important for people to see what is possible as we make the world more secure through our research and development."

Asked about Iraq, Bush said that topic was not discussed at the Texas White House meeting.

"I know there's this intense speculation, a churning, a frenzy...but the subject didn't come up," Bush said.

"But having said that, we take all threats seriously, and we will continue to consult with our friends and allies," as well as members of the U.S. Congress about Iraq.

"The American people know my position, and that is, that regime change is in the interests of the world. How we achieve that is a matter of consultation and deliberation, which I do, I'm a deliberate person," the President said.

"I say it in my speeches ... that I'm a patient man. And when I say I'm a patient man, I mean I'm a patient man, and that we will look at all options and we will consider all technologies available to us and diplomacy and intelligence.

"But one thing is for certain, is that this administration agrees that Saddam Hussein is a threat and he will be -- that's a part of our thinking. And that hasn't changed.

"Nothing he has done has convinced me ... that he is the kind of fellow that is willing to forego weapons of mass destruction, is willing to be a peaceful neighbor, that is, will honor the people, the Iraqi people of all stripes, will -- value human life. He hasn't convinced me, nor has he convinced my administration."

Asked to discuss his reaction to reports of the death of terrorist Abu Nidal, Bush said:

"Well, first of all, no terrorist can hide forever. Secondly, I found it interesting that they said he committed suicide with four bullet wounds to the head. And so I'm not exactly sure how he died. We just have to wait and make sure in fact he did die.

"But the point is, is that when the world puts their mind to fighting terror, we can rout out these terrorists. And some of them will be able to hide longer than others and some of them will be able to survive longer than others. But this country will continue to lead the coalition that the Secretary of Defense talked about, to hunt them down one by one. And that's a positive development."