31.   And none of the allies were willing to send ground troops on a combat mission to Kosovo unless the United States went with them.

32.   And they are weighing a possible invasion of Kosovo by allied ground troops.

33.   And with public support for ground troops declining, the deployment of troops in combat represented a big risk.

34.   Annan said that large scale Israeli military operations using tanks, ground troops and attack aircraft were causing large-scale loss of life in refugee camps.

35.   Any mission for ground troops is more problematic.

36.   Another amendment, sponsored by Rep. Ernest Istook, R-Okla., would have barred U.S. ground troops from the Balkans.

37.   As a result, it was not clear when, if at all, the US ground troops might be used as part of a NATO operation in Bosnia.

38.   As late as Monday, Defense Secretary William Cohen said there was no consensus among NATO allies for the use of ground troops.

39.   As recently as two weeks ago, a U.S. magazine revealed the existence of a letter to Clinton from the chiefs of staff arguing for ground troops.

40.   At a caucus of House Democrats too, lawmakers said there were sharp divisions over ground troops.