Building A Relationship

President Bush expressed confidence Friday that he would be able to persuade skeptical allies to support a missile shield against ballistic missiles, saying such a system "makes a lot of sense."

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who met with Mr. Bush at the presidential retreat at Camp David, Md., said the allies must be consulted about the controversial system but asserted, "We can find a way through this."

Blair has yet to take a firm position on the national missile defense system that Bush has made a top priority.

Both Bush and Blair said that details of such a plan were not discussed in their meeting.

The missile defense plan is among the thorny issues on the table, and top among them is how to deal with Iraq, CBS News White House Correspondent John Roberts reports. The two leaders are getting together after their recent joint action to contain Iraq's military and amid questions on how they should proceed with globally controversial missile defense plans.

A week after the attack on Iraqi missile sites, the two leaders are trying to write a formula for sanctions that would squeeze the Iraqi military, but ease the crushing effect on Iraqi civilians. Mr. Bush was direct: he will hold a hard line against Saddam.

"A change in the sanction regime that are not working should not be any signal to him (Iraq leader Saddam Hussein) that he should not cross the line" and challenge the U.S., Mr. Bush said.

Some European nations fear that Mr. Bush's plans for a ballistic missile defense shield, dubbed "Son of Star Wars" by some, may trigger a new arms race. And they're pressuring Blair to use his influence to persuade Mr. Bush to stand down.

The British government has been cautious about the plan, but says it understands American concerns.

The White House insisted that having such a tall order in a first meeting will not rock the close bonds between the two countries.

Blair had a solid friendship with former President Bill Clinton, with whom he shared many political views, and he defended him during the Monica Lewinsky affair.

"Bill Clinton is a friend of mine and will remain a friend of mine," Blair said on Friday. He declined to answer a question on the controversies swirling around Clinton's awarding of pardons and other controversial last-minute dealings.

"I don't think it's appropriate for me," he said.

Bush and Blair played down their political differences. Bush said, "he can handle his politics in Britain and I can handle mine. This is a special relationship...and we're going to keep it that way."

On other matters:

Bush suggested he would not take as active a role as Clinton in the Northern Ireland peace process, saying he would "wait to be asked by the prime minister" before becoming involved. Blair said it was "difficult to foresee circumstances" in which he'd pick up the phone and ask Bush to offer his assistance in the region.

Bush said that China had replied to U.S. protests that Beijing was helping Iraq build radar systems to use against American and British warplanes. Bush said the gist of the Chinese response was "if this is the case, we'll remedy the situation."

Both leaders said they discussed European plans to create an all-European rapid reaction force whose troops could be sent to maintain peace in trouble spots. Bush administration officials have said they are concerned such a force could undermine NATO. Bush said Blair "assured me that NATO is going to be the primary way to keep the peace in Europe. And I assured him that the United States will be actively engaged in NATO, remain engaged in Europe with our allies."

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