21.   But it would be even more unfair to thrust Americans into dangers that are justified by no vital interest of the United States.

22.   But Juncker draws the line at vital national interests, notably money.

23.   But that appears unlikely because the Western powers no longer see that they have any vital interests in places like Sierra Leone now that the Cold War has ended.

24.   Capitalizing on this momentum will serve American vital interests.

25.   Clinton and his top aides will take every opportunity in the next few weeks to make the case that America has a vital interest in safeguarding peace in Europe.

26.   Dozens of countries in the adjacent regions also have their vital national interests, and one could only guess what would happen to them if war broke out.

27.   Every president since Richard Nixon has recognized that ensuring Persian Gulf security and stability is a vital U.S. interest.

28.   Expectations of decisive American action, even on supposedly vital national interests, have been raised, only to be dashed.

29.   For their part, Western nations evidently do not feel that vital interests are at stake in these territories.

30.   Furthermore, they are convinced that they alone must bear responsibility for the vital interests of their small, beleaguered nation.