With the holiday season just around the corner, the Air Force has been busy compiling its yuletide wish list, and it's got some pretty strange requests.

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Artillery was gradually replaced by tactical missiles in the defensive role, but the Air Force was too busy building a fleet of long-range bombers and supersonic fighters to be bothered with ground-based air defenses, while Army troops had a clear need for such defenses.

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Since they have ruled out the only immediate alternative, military force, they are doubtless now busy preparing to make lemonade out of this pile of lemons.

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Merrill has been busy promoting the advantage its advisor force (16, 000 strong by the way ) has by being able to cross-sell bank products from parent company Bank of America.

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The UK Border Force says it is "fully prepared to manage busy periods" such as the Olympics despite criticism over recent delays at Heathrow Airport.

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The cliffs had been especially busy over the Easter Bank holiday weekend with holiday makers, the force added.

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Now pubs not using plastics on busy nights would face a fast track review of licensing conditions which force their use full time, police said.

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Some cut-price airlines want regulators to force Swiss and British Airways to give up valuable take-off and landing slots at London's busy Heathrow airport if Swiss is allowed to become a Oneworld member.

ECONOMIST: Back to old tricks | The