1.   Alerted by his outriders to an impending hatchet job, Gates devotes considerable time to challenging my assertions.

2.   But diplomats here challenged that assertion, saying the government has recently threatened on several occasions to open diplomatic pouches at the Port-au-Prince airport.

3.   But BU lawyers challenged that assertion.

4.   But Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg challenged his assertion that the policy is really neutral.

5.   But protesters in several cities are challenging that assertion, trying to close down the fast-food outlets for allegedly lacing fries with beef fat.

6.   But senators challenged his assertion, and said they would try to lift restrictions President Bush set on federal financing for stem cell research.

7.   But several journalists have challenged that assertion in sworn affidavits.

8.   But Republicans challenged the assertion of privilege, maintaining that it does not apply.

9.   But that assertion is challenged by some of the tenants.

10.   Critics of the company challenge that assertion, however, as offering more of a marketing definition than a technical explanation.