It may be the lingering fear that a patient going under the knife does not always pull through.

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Though the president's father reportedly blamed Greenspan for his own failure to be reelected--and the president's counselors have griped that Greenspan has been insufficiently enthusiastic about their tax cut plan--not endorsing the valiant matador of the money supply would be unthinkable, certainly not when the man is under the knife.

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Redknapp admitted that if Woodgate does go under the knife, he will be sidelined for a considerable length of time.

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Vainikolo went under the knife at the Cromwell Hospital in London on Monday and will be out of action for at least seven months.

BBC: Vainikolo to miss rest of season