1.   The United Nations has not had inspectors working in Iraq since last December, when they were pulled out before the United States and Britain launched punitive airstrikes.

2.   Their departure opened the way for punitive airstrikes in December by the United States and its allies against Baghdad.

3.   Russia has been noncommittal about dispatching NATO troops to Kosovo and has adamantly opposed conducting punitive airstrikes against its ally, Serbia.

4.   Russia has been noncommittal about NATO troops and has adamantly opposed conducting punitive airstrikes on Serbia, its old ally.

5.   Russia has been noncommittal about dispatching NATO troops to Kosovo and has adamantly opposed conducting punitive airstrikes on Serbia, its old ally.

6.   Bosnian Serb forces defied the international comunity Friday by using UN peacekeepers as human shields to prevent NATO launching further punitive airstrikes.