Former Conservative defence minister Michael Portillo said he feared Nato had been "dealt a mortal blow".

BBC: UK slates Franco-German moves

The truth is that, either way, Mr. Obama will have dealt Israel a potentially mortal blow.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Obama's not-so-hidden agenda

But, in the longer term, the bombing could prove a mortal blow to the already weakened Mr Netanyahu.

ECONOMIST: Carnage in Jerusalem

As a result, his career ultimately suffered a mortal blow, not to mention the damage he caused shareholders, who watched their stock drop as a result of his inexperience.

FORBES: Magazine Article

If the Supreme Courts decides in favor of the EPA on the merits of the case, the states' movement to regulate carbon dioxide will be dealt a likely mortal blow.

FORBES: Supreme Court Takes On Global Warming?

But it could deal a mortal blow to Mr Blair's project to form a progressive anti-Conservative coalition at national level with the Liberal Democrats, and to portray the Scottish coalition as a shining precursor.

ECONOMIST: The Scottish play

If that happened, it would be a brutal, perhaps even mortal, blow to Mr Simitis's government.

ECONOMIST: Greece