1.   The standoff threatened to revive the fractious debates over Central America policy between Congress and the Reagan White House two decades ago.

2.   Kosovo airport standoff threatens start of talks.

3.   Russia and China have refused to make concessions to India, the main hold out, and the standoff threatened to wreck two and a half years of negotiations.

4.   The political standoff threatens to split the Serb-controlled territory into two.

5.   The standoff threatens to further strain the United Nations at a time when its effectiveness is being questioned.

6.   The standoff threatens to strain the United Nations at a time the organization is facing a grave financial crisis and questions about its effectiveness.

7.   The standoff threatens to strain the United Nations at a time the organization is facing a grave financial crisis and questions about its effectivity.

8.   The standoff threatens to strain the United Nations at a time when its effectiveness is being questioned.

9.   The standoff threatens to delay the budget, which the government wants approved by late March, insisting the measures are needed for economic recovery.

10.   The standoff also threatens the newly revived Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.