This matters: if bin Laden was in effect in an ISI safe house, it would help explain why Pakistan-America relations have grown so dangerously confrontational over the past 18 months.

ECONOMIST: One year on, the story makes for a gripping read

And he's widely seen as more confrontational than Clement, so the White House apparently thinks that this temporary appointment will spur the Democrats into moving more quickly on Mukasey.

NPR: White House Took Care in Vetting Mukasey

So the answer was not strident or confrontational, but an attempt to sound unthreatening, a little humble even.

BBC: 'A lot to be done': Hu tackles human rights

Conference season is traditionally the time for union leaders to make speeches full of confrontational rhetoric aimed at pleasing their delegates - so there is bound to be plenty of that.

BBC: By Nick Assinder

But much of the confrontational spirit stems from a desire to assert the rights of the legislature, treated for so long like a rubber-stamp.

ECONOMIST: Politics in Mexico