41.   For years, militia leaders warned about Russian or U.N. soldiers landing in black helicopters to police rebellious Americans.

42.   Holbrooke indicated that these were the work of the Serb militia leader Zeljko Raznatovic, known as Arkan.

43.   However, many remained wary about having militia leaders take over the reins of the state.

44.   How then are militia leaders repackaging their message to focus on the anxieties of job-holding, home-owning, short-haired, sober American citizens?

45.   Hutu militia leaders used them as a base for cross-border attacks on Rwanda.

46.   If the military withdraws its support, the tough-talking militia leaders could find that their best option is accommodation.

47.   In some cases, that means buying off militia leaders by paying for projects that make the leaders look good.

48.   In some areas, though, the sweep appears to have pushed militia leaders into hiding, and their momentary departure has allowed the current trickle of escapes.

49.   In the first offensive, numerous militia leaders were killed or arrested.

50.   Indeed, the militia leader killed Thursday night in the car explosion, Atef Obaiyat, had been briefly jailed and released just in the last couple of weeks.