1.   And senior Pentagon officials insisted that the Defense Department had not abandoned plans for another military strike in response to what they have described as repeated Iraqi provocations.

2.   But the planning went on, and the military drew up at least half a dozen options to respond to Iraqi provocations.

3.   Clinton had responded to what the White House portrayed as Iraqi provocations on at least two prior occasions.

4.   For several years the United States has responded to Iraqi provocations with more bluster than action.

5.   Future Iraqi provocations might call for a truly serious military response, which would mean risking the lives of American aircrews and perhaps others.

6.   The administration responded to Iraqi provocations, but saw little opportunity to oust Saddam except at great cost in blood and treasure.

7.   The United States has followed up with three limited strikes since the end of the Gulf War in response to Iraqi provocation.

8.   The attack was in response to an Iraqi provocation, which the official did not describe.

9.   Vacationing in Texas, Bush defended the missions as a necessary response to Iraqi provocations.

10.   Defense Secretary William Perry warned Wednesday that the United States would respond disproportionately to Iraqi provocations.