WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: For its part, the United States has taken another step in carrying out the 1991 START arms reduction treaty with Russia. In North Dakota, a silo that once housed a nuclear-armed missile was destroyed Wednesday. CNN's Jeff Flock is there with the latest.</s>JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): : That is what that blast looked like. One of now 150 silos that are being destroyed in the great plains of North Dakota. The Air Force gave us quick access to the sight. Obviously, it's still being checked out here as we speak. I want to talk to Larry Vetter, who -- give me some estimation for what was accomplished here. Did your mission get accomplished.</s>LARRY VETTER, MISSILE ENGINEER: Yes, sir, it look had a real good blast. We got some "rubblization" that we wanted so that we can salvage the rebar (ph) and do our excavation for the observation. Doesn't like we're going to be, you know, challenged to much with extra work on this one.</s>FLOCK: Larry Vetter, I appreciate it very much. I want to also come up and talk to the Air Force. One-hundred and fifty missile silos being destroyed in this fashion, Col. Carpenter. Is this a loss for the Air Force in terms of missile capabilities?</s>COL. CHARLES CARPENTER, AIR FORCE SPACE COMMAND: No, this is not a loss. We still maintain a very robust missile capability. We have 500 Minutemen III and 50 Peacekeeper missiles still on alert, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.</s>FLOCK: No great loss.</s>CARPENTER: It's not a great loss, no, it's good news for arms control.</s>FLOCK: Good deal. Colonel thanks so much, appreciate it. That is the latest from here. Jeff Flock, CNN, reporting from Barnes County, North Dakota.
U.S. Takes Another Step in Carrying Out the 1991 START Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia