11.   But all hands seemed to have been tied by the independent counsel law.

12.   But a number of Republicans say that if the independent counsel law is allowed to expire, it will be the fault of the attorney general, not Starr.

13.   But in recent weeks, the effectiveness of the independent counsel law has come into question.

14.   But now we have an independent counsel law, and so a panel of judges has appointed a new counsel.

15.   But no one would argue that a cost-benefit appraisal of the independent counsel law should be conducted in terms of mere dollars and cents.

16.   But Reno said there were no specific accusations about foreign donations involving senior officials who are covered by the independent counsel law.

17.   But Reno says the investigation has not yet found evidence of criminal activity by anyone covered by the independent counsel law.

18.   But many Republicans have been reluctant to push for the reauthorization of an independent counsel law, which they believe was also used unfairly to harass GOP presidents.

19.   But that would not be enough, warn those who still champion the independent counsel law .

20.   But politicization and loss of confidence are not inevitable, nor can these problems be blamed exclusively on the independent counsel law.