1.   The Iraqi offensive was also interpreted by many commentators as an attempt by Saddam Hussein to precipitate the long-awaited allied ground assault.

2.   And last weekend, American commandoes staged a ground assault on a Taliban stronghold and suffered no casualties at the hands of the Taliban.

3.   Anti-Taliban commanders near the fortified Tora Bora cave complex in eastern Afghanistan said they were preparing for a major ground assault.

4.   A short time later, the governor of a nearby province predicted a second major U.S.-Afghan ground assault would begin at any hour.

5.   After giving Capriati all she could handle in the opening set, Dokic began to falter under a withering ground assault.

6.   But officials would not confirm its use in the ground assault.

7.   But the bombing lacked intensity at its commencement and has never carried with it the credible threat of ground assault.

8.   Even a brief ground assault will not stop him.

9.   He said he saw hundreds of explosive devices that had been prepared for combatting the anticipated ground assault.

10.   It carries commando units preparing for possible ground assaults in Afghanistan.