But efforts to undermine the group have been blunted by Hezbollah's strong local support within Lebanon.
The Republicans' incestuous relationship with the business establishment has blunted its enthusiasm for corporate reform.
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However, its policy of announcing and then repeatedly re-announcing cash sums has blunted the impact.
Whipsawing commodity prices and the economic downturn blunted that goal and sales have stalled for the last two years.
That criticism may be blunted by the new round of delays and discussions.
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The desire for larger families has been considerably blunted by China's transition in recent years to a market economy.
Both have their own problems -- a blunted nose going against aerodynamic considerations.
But even if Mr Berezovsky does unleash some scandals, their impact will be blunted without independent media in Russia.
But the timing of Colombia's latest iteration of its claims blunted their effectiveness.
But Mr Knezevic's murder has not blunted the drive by Mrs Plavsic and Mr Dodik against their Pale rivals.
Without free trade, the efficiency improvements wrought by microeconomic reform will be blunted.
While your heir's consumption habits may increase, the desire to work is unlikely to be blunted by a large inheritance.
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Mr Davutoglu has played a key role (and, incidentally, blunted Iranian influence) in forging alliances between Shia and Sunni factions.
Stade finally began to gain a foothold in the opposition half, but resolute defence and repeated turnovers blunted their attacking edge.
She argues that the notion of "respecting your elders" may also have blunted the desire to take on the baby boomers.
Gates strategy had its intended effect--it blunted the competition and paved the way for the eventual runaway success of Windows 3.0.
It's hard to shake the impression that the traditional media banners for which they now work have blunted their insurgent charm.
Cancer patients' "taste can be blunted so they need something strong sweet, spicy or acidic just so they can taste it, " she says.
While such appeals worked in those elections, Democrats believe they've blunted the Republican attacks this time by going on the offensive themselves.
But by the early 1990s Rockwell Collins had blunted its technological edge.
And, every time he takes to the bully pulpit to urge integrity, family devotion or other noble things, his message will be blunted.
When taste buds become dry, they also become less receptive and your sense of smell is blunted, making subtle flavours nearly impossible to detect.
But you'd do all that under expert adult supervision and in the protected world of childhood, where the impact of your inevitable failures would be blunted.
They were perhaps slightly jaded after Saturday's exertions but the accuracy was there, they were simply blunted by a placid pitch and, above all, excellent application.
If trading across all markets, not just NYSE Euronext, had slowed or stopped for a few minutes on May 6 the crash could have been blunted.
Microsoft's courtship was blunted by a proposed deal with Google.
They decided that even if players adjusted to the new offense and started to win that it blunted the strengths of key stars and even worse, it was BORING.
Irish Derby winner Fame and Glory, a 5-6 favourite, benefited from the pacemaking of stablemate Dixie Music, which may have blunted the finishing speed of last year's Oaks winner Sariska.
And high taxes blunted entrepreneurial spirits and business activity.
Nearly three years of a government of national unity has blunted the opposition's edge - the MDC has seamlessly become part of the ruling class, in their official vehicles and trappings of power.
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