Most of the money went to for-profit companies and the operators of Allied Veterans, authorities said.

NPR: Fla. Politician Resigns, 57 Charged In Scandal

The Foreign Ministry has contacted local authorities and allied nations with a presence in the area.

CNN: Presumed pirates take fishing boat off Somalia

Such protection can be maximized by collaboration with allied navies and command authorities.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: An Effective Antimissile Strategy

It strains credulity that Gorbachev's evident hope of "toughing out" the present crisis is unrelated to the substantial emergency assistance to the central authorities in Moscow now being contemplated by the Bush Administration and its counterparts in allied capitals.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy