President Bush wants more information on how the proposed DD-21 destroyer would fit into the nation’s overall defense strategy before he gives the green light to the program that Maine’s Bath Iron Works is banking on for future work.

In a White House briefing Monday with reporters from newspapers around the country, Bush said he recognizes the importance of the Bath shipyard to Maine and he expressed support for the Navy.

But he said he’s not ready to commit to the Navy’s new generation of destroyers until his national security team can review the ship’s strategic role.

“We need to have a vision,” Bush said.