While this might appear to mark a setback for Syria, it has made some important compensatory gains in its relations with the US, Europe and Saudi Arabia, and it is debatable whether Syria's security interests would necessarily have been served by a result enhancing the position of Hizbullah, the Iranian-backed Shia political and military movement that was the driving force of the March 8th opposition bloc.
They will keep up their threat of force, encourage the Iraqi opposition, try to get inspections under way again, step up patrols of the Gulf against sanctions-busting smugglers and launch a diplomatic offensive to bring the world round to their point of view.
Already the main trade-union federation, which has emerged as an influential political force in the absence of strong opposition parties, has called for strikes and wage increases in certain sectors.
Sadly, he came to the realization that Paris had transformed his friend into a force of nature that would brook no opposition.
The government has a majority of 16 in the House, but all opposition parties are against the use of force in Iraq.
But the last round of trade talks, the Uruguay Round, ended in bitterness after the United States tried to force through the abolition of agricultural price supports against the fierce opposition of the European Union.
Yukio Hatoyama, leader of the Democratic Party, the biggest of the opposition forces, says he will use control of the upper house to block legislation and so force an early general election.
But Mr Hague claimed that Mr Blair had been rocked by the strength of opposition to plans for a European rapid reaction force.
It tried to force utilities to increase production of renewable energy in the face of fierce opposition by the utility industry group, and it included a tax package that the White House has long indicated it would not support.
Former opposition MP Mubarak al-Waalan criticised the use of force.
But the opposition is counting on the latest scandal to force a second round of voting.
This is the moment when the Lords' power is at its greatest, when brinkmanship by the Opposition or rebel groups can force ministers into concessions, for fear of losing an entire piece of legislation because it's not agreed as the session ends.
Analysts say her majority of one in the 150-seat lower house of parliament will force Ms Gillard to negotiate issue-by-issue with the opposition Liberals.
Once in office, Mr. Sharif will come under heavy pressure on the issue from a new political force, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, which has made opposition to American drones a central theme of its politics.
West Yorkshire Police's chief constable, who found himself at the eye of the storm following the Hillsborough papers revelations, has attracted public criticism and opposition from within his current force.
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