Progress has certainly been made.

Thaksin knows this.

Asia, of course, is different.

To be sure, the impression is deceptive.

This is, to be sure, a special case.

But there is a cure for me.

Of course, Greenspan s behavior meant that under his watch, the economy performed better than it otherwise would have.

The Muslim threat is, of course, not a fantasy.

Of course, it takes two to tango.

Revolutionary Islamism is undoubtedly dangerous and bloody.

Of course, America is not Imperial Germany.

Of course, Russia knows this.

America certainly does not have a savings glut.

True, Germany has its share of problems.

Of course, extremists will hate it.

Of course, the differences between Russia and Iran are enormous.

That won t be easy.

This is, to be sure, easier said than done.

To be sure, this is not much of a consolation.

Of course, Blair does not think of himself as a new imperialist.

Of course, soft power is no panacea.

To be sure, Solidarity achieved a stunning political success.

There is no dispute that Duch violated the rights of thousands of Khmers.

Of course, investing in stocks is not a bad thing.

Subsidies, of course, interfere with free trade.

Such measures are, of course, an unfortunate detour.

To be sure, there could be glitches.

To be sure, French and Dutch citizens did not respond to the question that they were supposed to answer.

Without this guarantee, fewer would have invested in the capacity to satisfy the US market.

There are obvious pitfalls, to be sure.

To be sure, the exchange rate has an impact on investment and trade.

Of course, such norms are helpful.

China will undoubtedly find the EU a tough negotiating partner.

To be sure, Estimé had hastened his own demise in several ways.

Of course, Afghanistan does not bear sole responsibility for its plight.

Of course, modern technology alone cannot bring about a revolution.

Of course, parliamentary political systems are far from perfect.

The truth about her disappearance will, undoubtedly, remain murky for some time.

Secrecy is, of course, necessary in national security affairs.

Of course, that issue is completely outside Israel s control.

What it means is that Russia is back on its historical path of development, back at the point where things started to go wrong. The domestic situation, the global environment, and the historical memory of its people all militate against Russia being bound to relive its own tragic history.

The perversity of the first alternative is obvious there is no surplus food production in the world.

That is not a future that any of us should approve.

The next US president, whether he is Barack Obama or John McCain, will certainly maintain the close bilateral alliance.

But of course, my grandmother was right to equate defeat with liberation.