21.   But a senior NBC executive made it clear that Murdoch had insisted that NBC agree to withdraw its petitions as a precondition to the Star TV deal.

22.   But CBS executives have made it clear that this backup will be first off the bench.

23.   But executives also made it clear that the battles are likely to continue.

24.   But Ford executives make it clear they are listening.

25.   But Blue Cross executives make no bones about their desire to abolish Medex altogether.

26.   But during a week of meetings and hearings with lawmakers, airline executives made a strong case for immediate help.

27.   But in the Smalley case, a company executive made a stunning admission.

28.   Carson said he teased Leahy about a comment the Airbus executive had made some weeks earlier that Connexion would never be found on an Airbus plane.

29.   Charlotte-based executives made it clear they were furious.

30.   Company executives made the same arguments in discussions with the government.