1.   As Moscow brandished its threats, representatives of the Russian government were evacuated by convoy from the breakaway Caucasus republic.

2.   The sooner the two sides stop brandishing threats and start reassuring each other, the sooner they will find ways to say yes.

3.   Once again brandishing the threat of trade sanctions against Tokyo, the United States government is launching an investigation into the Japanese photo market.

4.   Brown, as US Trade Representative Mickey Kantor last week, also brandished the threat of trade sanctions against Tokyo in the event the talks do not bear fruit.

5.   The Security Council brandished the threat Monday of possible military intervention and an international arms embargo in a bid to avert an ethnic bloodbath in Burundi.

6.   Sarajevo has half-heartedly brandished the threat of a poll boycott if Karadzic and Mladic are not first arrested.