11.  All agree that an American attack on any Arab country would provoke catastrophe.

12.  But diplomats here and officials in Washington said that Saddam, isolated diplomatically by even his friends, apparently decided not to provoke an American attack now.

13.  But the concentration of Taliban forces, rebel officials argue, makes them particularly susceptible to American bombing attacks.

14.  But the UN said that hundreds of thousands of Afghans are trying to escape, fearful not just of American attacks but of forced conscription by the Taliban militia.

15.  But they insisted that there be no American bombing attacks or commando raids launched from their territory, which shares a narrow mountainous border with northern Afghanistan.

16.  Diplomats at the United Nations said the offer relayed by Moussa had all the hallmarks of an attempt by Saddam to build up international resistance to an American attack.

17.  DiCicco said Thursday that he may start Shannon MacMillan for Cindy Parlow, using her speed to kick-start the American attack.

18.  During the past several days, round-the-clock American attacks have focused on Taliban positions on the western section of the front line near the village of Khalazai.

19.  Experts fear the disease could spread if an American attack on Afghanistan, where the virus has been traced, produces more refugees.

20.  For in terms of a military offensive, this is essentially an American attack on Yugoslavia, using American aircraft dropping American bombs.