The constitution is ambiguous about how binding the transitional deadlines are: failure to abide by them does not necessarily mean a crisis.

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At the time it became a debate about whether Iraq satisfied these criteria by its failure to abide by U.N. resolutions concerning disarmament.

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Proponents argue that the agreement offers significant opportunities for the United States and that failure to abide by its terms, painstakingly negotiated, could drastically worsen U.S.-Japan defense relations.

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He said at the trial the company's failure to abide by safety rules was "one of the worst examples of sustained industrial negligence in a high risk industry I have ever seen".

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Secondly, Annan's resignation highlights the failure at the United Nations Security Council of Russia and China to support resolutions -- meaningful resolutions against Assad that would have held Assad accountable for his failure to abide by his commitments under the Annan plan.

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However, there are some positives out of the Annan plan in spite of the failure of Assad to abide by it, and that is where there are United Nations observers in place there has been a reduction in violence.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

It is another benefit of the Annan plan, despite the failure of Assad to abide by it, that we have United Nations observers who can account for -- objectively account for the actions of the Assad regime and the thug forces that support it.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

What he should focus on is the failure of his government, of Iran, to abide by its international obligations, to abide by United Nations Security Council resolutions.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing