31.  The administration is right to take a firm stand on youngsters because most smokers adopt the habit in childhood or adolescence and get hooked within a few years.

32.  The NFL has a long history of taking firm stands against player involvement in illegal gambling.

33.  They stressed the fact that Bush has not taken firm stands on many issues.

34.  Tkachuk said he realizes he is probably taking a public relations hit with his firm stand.

35.  And he urged President Clinton to take a firm stand in ending the rule of Castro.

36.  Arafat said he expects Albright to take a firm stand against what he calls Israeli evasiveness.

37.  But the Rev. Robert Hayes, a district superintendent in Houston, appealed for a firm stand.

38.  Candidates for promotion should have a firm political stand, or be loyal to the party central leadership, Xinhua quoted the article as saying.

39.  Despite his firm stand, Mobutu lacked the political power, or the physical strength, to succeed.

40.  Ekeus said he expects the world body to take a firm stand against Iraq for blocking the inspectors.