21.   Even if Arafat were to soften his stance on Israel, how significant such a breakthrough would be is far from clear.

22.   Georgetown University law Professor Chai Feldlum said she would be surprised if the military softens its stance against gay men and lesbians in the military.

23.   Friday, Representative Barney Frank, a critic earlier in the week, softened his stance.

24.   Government negotiators led by Camilo Gomez as well as foreign diplomats and peace advocates persisted, urging communities that most strongly protested the demilitarized zone to soften their stance.

25.   Gerritt Zalm, the finance minister of the Netherlands, also said that Lafontaine should soften his stance.

26.   He has since softened his stance, saying Taiwan would declare independence only if attacked.

27.   He added, however, that Compaq has softened its stance over the past few months and that few customers were being billed for technical support.

28.   He has softened his stance now that the plan is complete.

29.   He has softened that stance, but he is edging only very hesitantly, if at all, toward any decisive action.

30.   He then softened its stance after discovering France needed fresh funds to help reduce its borrowing, a requirement for the European single currency.