51.   But this is a moment that should live on for the Patriot defense, even if the officials once again seemed confused at a critical moment.

52.   But these days South Korean officials seem fairly understanding of the U.S. efforts, and Seoul itself has been taking steps to improve relations with the North.

53.   But with international support for arms inspections and sanctions against Iraq weakening, some administration officials seem ready to quietly abandon that goal.

54.   But, privately, union officials seem confident that the pace of recruitment is picking up.

55.   But Thursday officials seemed to back away from that position.

56.   But U.S. officials seemed to decide that anything they might say would only make a bad situation worse.

57.   But while the officials seem optimistic that Thailand has belatedly begun to honor its loan terms, they make no secret of rising tension with Indonesia.

58.   By focusing on the looming problems, administration officials seemed eager to head off pressure to spend more of the windfall on politically popular programs.

59.   Chinese officials seem determined to prove him guilty of something.

60.   Chinese officials seem to have adopted a laissez-faire attitude toward his tour.