11.   A defense official said that by Wednesday, a day before the Cole arrived, it would have been widely expected in the port.

12.   A decision on that mission is not expected soon and probably would not come without a breakthrough in the Middle East peace effort, one defense official said.

13.   A decision on that mission is not expected soon and probably would not come without a breakthrough in the Middle East peace process, one defense official said.

14.   A defense official added that special forces are operating with only a limited number of opposition units.

15.   A defense official said that the humanitarian operation would rely heavily on non-governmental organizations that have been alerted to prepare for the task.

16.   A senior U.S. defense official says President Boris Yeltsin has authorized some of the boldest sub operations since the end of the Cold War.

17.   A senior American defense official said that the Russians would operate within the American sector, as is the case in Bosnia.

18.   A senior British defense official also said that the allies were racing against time.

19.   A senior defense official cautioned that the Navy investigation, which began the day after the attack, could show that the Cole was following proper high alert procedures.

20.   A senior defense official insisted that the United States had no intention of setting a precedent.