1.   The current showdown in Montana between the FBI and a small band of scofflaws calling themselves Freemen has kept the media focus on the dangerous militia phenomenon.

2.   An Arab coalition is not in place during the current showdown, and Arab support for a U.S. attack is much more muted.

3.   But one good sign has come from this current showdown, and that is the United Nations gained some strength diplomatically.

4.   European Commission President Jacques Santer called Saturday for a diplomatic solution to the current showdown between the United States and Iraq.

5.   Israeli officials said Wednesday that Israel, the target of Iraqi missiles during the Gulf War, does not consider itself to be a player in the current showdown.

6.   Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that while Israel did not consider itself part of the current showdown, it reserved the right to self-defense.

7.   Netanyahu also said that while Israel did not consider itself part of the current showdown in the Gulf over weapons inspections, it would retaliate if attacked by Iraq.

8.   Private economists said the ultimate loser in the current showdown could be the U.S. consumer.

9.   The current showdown seems to be a testimony in itself that both agendas can hardly be synchronised.

10.   The summit was a dress rehearsal for the current showdown in the Balkans.