1.   Ten thousand years ago the ice began its retreat from Scotland.

2.   A dozen years ago in Termez, a dusty Uzbekistan border town that may again become a dateline, I watched the Russian Army begin its retreat from Afghanistan.

3.   Early this year, Fluor began a retreat from its growth strategy.

4.   In recent years, Los Angeles has begun a retreat in three-quarters of a century of struggles over water.

5.   Replays showed first-base ump Laz Diaz apparently missed the call, but Scioscia eventually began his retreat to the dugout.

6.   The meeting lasted maybe a second, and when Piniella began the retreat to the dugout, he doffed his cap, bringing down the house.

7.   Just three minutes later, the outnumbered British began their retreat and the Colonials crossed the bridge that had been at the center of the fighting.