ANDRIA HALL, CNN ANCHOR: Defense Secretary William Cohen is criticizing a nuclear weapons reduction program being offered by Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush. CNN's Kelly Wallace is at the White House with details. Hi, Kelly.</s>KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Andria. Well, that's right. The defense secretary did have some criticisms of the Texas governor's approach to national security. But he also extended a somewhat unusual offer to Mr. Bush, and that is a briefing by the Joint Chiefs of Staff on weapons and missile defense. Tuesday, Governor Bush said, as president, he would propose a unilateral reduction in the strategic nuclear arsenal. He also said he would back a more advanced missile defense system than the Clinton administration is currently considering. Secretary Cohen disagreed with that approach, saying it would only cause Russia and other nations to build up their defenses. But he also said that Bush and his team should be briefed to here the Pentagon's views on this subject since this is an issue that is getting lots and lots of attention in the presidential race.</s>WILLIAM COHEN, DEFENSE SECRETARY: I know that Governor Bush, with his advisers, would be -- I think it would be beneficial for them to have this information today, before the election, so that there can be a real, serious and solid debate on the issue. I hope that national security will become politicized, because it's too important to have a Republican or Democratic label on it.</s>WALLACE: So far, no word from the Bush camp on Secretary Cohen's offer, which is unusual because presidential candidates usually only receive administration briefings after they are formally nominated at the convention. Now the White House is pushing a limited missile defense plan, but so far the Russians are against that as well. Mr. Clinton will talk missile defense and other arms control issues when he heads to Russia this weekend for his first meeting with Vladimir Putin since Mr. Putin was elected president. Kelly Wallace, CNN, reporting live from the White House.
Cohen Offers Bush Joint Chiefs Briefing on Nuclear Weapons Policy