1.   Direct American wartime experience of British colonial rule often strengthened the belief that imperialism was incompatible with freedom and rapid material advance.

2.   If anything, he said, the experience has strengthened his beliefs.

3.   If anything, it only strengthened our belief that this was a country in a downward, out-of-control spiral that was about to implode.

4.   Recent events, in fact, have strengthened that belief.

5.   That belief was strengthened early last decade when an investigative report from a Washington television station said that three white quarterbacks had failed drug tests but were not punished.

6.   Terminating the action in Iraq without any conclusive results only a few hours after the House voted for impeachment strengthened that belief.

7.   The pilgrims now come only to pray and strengthen their beliefs, Holiday said.

8.   This only strengthened my belief that the Yankees belong not in New Jersey, not in Manhattan, nowhere but the Bronx.

9.   No contact or ransom demand was made, strengthening the belief that the slaying of Daniel, a member of the leftist Workers Party, was politically motivated.