Space, the Pentagon believes, is the ultimate military "high ground" - the tower from which to pour boiling oil.

But if the Pentagon believed results were directly proportional to the investment, that was that.

"The Pentagon as well as the allies believe there is an urgency," said one official, who asked for anonymity.

He said the Pentagon believes that Iran has built two or three rudimentary 30-foot-long mini-submarines.

The Pentagon believes that its existing satellites and spy planes can do the job.

He also said the plan might not be as flexible as the Pentagon believes.

Does the Pentagon believe there are unknown defectors?

And both the Pentagon and the defense lawyers evidently believe that they need to move speedily to gain an advantage.

The press corps grew to respect and admire him for his ability to politely avoid answering questions that the Pentagon believed might compromise national security.