31.  Washington should not encourage that view while China is gauging how hard it can push against Taiwan without provoking an American response.

32.  Washington has wanted Beijing to understand that any unprovoked attack on Taiwan risked triggering an American military response.

33.  Whether they believe that the American response is justified is difficult to gauge.

34.  With the launching of an American military response this past weekend, the issue becomes even cloudier.

35.  At street-level, people questioned at random sound pleased with the American response.

36.  China ratified a U.N. Security Council resolution broadly endorsing an American response and promised to share intelligence with Washington.

37.  Last week, its members became the first regular U.S. ground troops dispatched to Central Asia as a part of the American response.

38.  The agency did not report the American response.

39.  The El Filalis want to see what happens with the American military response.

40.  Though careful not to commit to military action, U.S. officials made it clear that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is edging closer toward forcing a tough American response.