1.   The offensive began several days ago as an attempt to relieve the town.

2.   Before the offensive began he had tried in vain to impress this upon his superiors.

3.   Avendano, who has received frequent letters in the past from Marcos, said he has had no communication since the government offensive began last week.

4.   But nearly every day since the U.S.-led offensive began, the military has produced a classified estimate for senior officials of al-Qaida and Taliban dead.

5.   But nearly every morning since the U.S.-led offensive began, the military has produced a classified estimate for senior officials of al-Qaida and Taliban dead.

6.   He will ignore an event, reported by Barton Gellman of The Washington Post, that took place just as the Iranian charm offensive began.

7.   If true, it would be the first allied plane to be shot down since the offensive began.

8.   Ironically, the German offensive begins a day after President Franklin Roosevelt signs into law legislation authorizing a five-star general of the army rank for Eisenhower.

9.   Masood said the offensive would begin within the next five days.

10.   Offensives are beginning to emulate the manner in which the Broncos deal with the zone blitz.