11.   For Ms. Lee and Gund, who were technical neophytes, the answer appears to be a tentative yes.

12.   His answer appeared to conflict with a response he made Tuesday, when he said his recommendation should not be taken to imply that anyone has committed a crime.

13.   If those answers were not appearing fast, neither were American military advisers who are supposed to change the shape of the war in Afghanistan.

14.   In a wink, the answer appeared on the screen.

15.   In one case, however, the answer appears to be the latter.

16.   One answer appears to be in easing the wretched conditions in aboriginal communities plagued by poverty, alcoholism, drug abuse and painful cultural uprooting.

17.   Right now the answer appears to be yes.

18.   Sadly, the answer appears to be, not yet.

19.   Setting aside the ethical implications of a process that has had all the dignity of a mud wrestling match, the answer appears to be a qualified yes.

20.   So the answer would appear to be yes.