He called off the operation without sending in ground troops, with all the risks that would entail, and the three-week operation was widely regarded in Israel as a success.

BBC: Profile: Benjamin Netanyahu

But if he gives too much ground to the political arguments, he risks undermining the success of this and any future enlargements.

ECONOMIST: Enlarging the European Union

As with other issues, Obama has found a pragmatic middle ground that protects core strategic needs, reduces risks and appeals to war-weary voters.

CNN: Obama's strategic retreat in Afghanistan

But he ruled out a ground offensive, which would expose his soldiers to the risks of close-quarters combat.

BBC: News Online

With commercial crash rates in the U.S. at record low levels, safety experts see the biggest remaining accident risks while aircraft wheels are still on the ground.

WSJ: Honeywell Tests Autopilots for the Tarmac

SmithKline, for instance, had to work hard to allay concerns that it might dump its risks into Lloyd's, run its captive into the ground, and then let the market foot the bill.

ECONOMIST: Lloyd��s of London

Given the risks of aiming such a powerful beam of high-intensity radiation at an Earth ground station, as well as the cost of building billions of dollars in infrastructure to collect the energy in space, the efficiencies you can get from terrestrial solar power seem a safer bet--at least for now.

FORBES: Galactic Gold Mine?