When the intermediate-range nuclear forces treaty was first announced, the military sector and its political supporters were looking forward to lots more conventional weapons.

This is not the first time the United States offered to amend the conventional forces treaty to meet Russian concerns.

Ms. Albright, answering questions, spoke generally about the attempt "to adapt" the conventional forces treaty "to changed circumstances."

"That isn't covered by the conventional forces treaty at all, and potentially it's very worrisome."

Not only is the intermediate nuclear forces treaty, now being considered in Senate hearings, a "confidence-builder" easing the way to that more ambitious agreement.

At a White House ceremony in 1987, we signed the intermediate-range nuclear forces treaty, which launched the process of real arms reduction.

There are logical arguments against the intermediate nuclear forces treaty that have nothing to do with ideology.

Since then, the intermediate nuclear forces treaty, agreements on settling the situation in Afghanistan and other progress have broken the ice of longstanding stereotypes.

The exchanges in last year's Senate debate on the intermediate-range nuclear forces treaty were even more vitriolic.

Thus they do not expect the arms companies to suffer after the two sides sign the new intermediate nuclear forces treaty.