1.   Various parties pursued conflicting objectives, often making tenuous alliances with each other for the sole purpose of expediency.

2.   And he has cultivated at least a tenuous alliance with the mercurial Giuliani.

3.   Clinton also urged both Tudjman and Izetbegovic to take steps to maintain their tenuous alliance, and to ease troubled feelings between Bosnian Croats and Muslims.

4.   The same cannot be said for the tenuous alliances of assent Secretary of State Colin Powell is obliged to cobble together for an open-ended war against terrorism.

5.   The Taliban carried out an offensive in the area after the assassination, apparently hoping the death of Massoud would fracture the tenuous alliance.

6.   These officials said the police were probably sent by Bosnian Croat officials in the federation who oppose the tenuous alliance between the Muslims and Croats.

7.   Throughout Europe, retailers and unions have long formed a tenuous alliance against extended store hours.

8.   Cracks in that tenuous alliance could further undermine the faltering peace process.