1.   Because Germany, then, would not back a ground invasion, a political solution was needed to avoid a hugely damaging rift in NATO.

2.   Australia has sparked a potentially damaging new rift with Indonesia by switching its policy to back self-determination for the province of East Timor.

3.   It could even cause a damaging rift within the armed forces.

4.   Clinton feared a damaging rift with the joint chiefs in an election year, ban advocates said.

5.   Japanese militarists and right-wingers must bear sole responsibility for recent damaging rifts in relations between Tokyo and Beijing, Chinese Premier Li Peng was quoted as saying Thursday.

6.   On Wednesday Chinese Premier Li Peng blasted Japanese militarists and right-wingers, saying they must bear sole responsibility for recent damaging rifts in relations between Tokyo and Beijing.

7.   That decision infuriated the combined opposition and caused a potentially damaging rift between the Hindu nationalist BJP and its coalition allies.

8.   That decision infuriated opposition parties and caused a potentially damaging rift between the Hindu nationalist BJP and its coalition allies.