11.   The administration would have preferred to wait until after the election before introducing tougher measures, but the diplomatic timetable would not allow that.

12.   The Giuliani administration prefers a board mostly limited to oversight activities, with subpoena powers that would be granted only in special circumstances.

13.   Until last month, the Clinton administration preferred calls for action backed up by indecision.

14.   While the administration prefers the Senate version, it has several complaints about that bill as well.

15.   With that kind of congressional opposition, the Clinton administration would prefer to start the military assault before the House and Senate vote their disapproval.

16.   As northern alliance fighters advanced into Kabul, a senior U.S. official said the Bush administration prefers that no single group take control of the capital.

17.   But Foley said the administration preferred that an Israeli pullback be part of an overall settlement.

18.   Capitol Hill Republicans generally favor spending on counternarcotics activities, while the administration prefers spreading the money over a range of programs including treatment of addiction.

19.   In the United States a bill to ban trade and investment with Burma won significant support in Congress last month, but the Clinton administration prefers milder sanctions.

20.   Russia is insisting on a formal accord to reduce nuclear weapons arsenals and the Bush administration prefers an informal approach.