The Iraqi opposition believes that any small nucleus of army, U.S. trained, will be able to take over in the south, because they're already in a desperate situation.

CNN: Saddam Hussein

"We are now in a desperate situation, " he said.

BBC: A council HQ (generic)

"My sense is that Hondurans are finding themselves in a desperate situation and they really want U.S. cooperation, and that gives the U.S. some margin to make mistakes, " said Michael Shifter, president of the Inter-American Dialogue.

CNN: Honduran, US relations overcome deadly drug raid

With employers like Liu calling for a lower minimum wage, South Africa finds itself in a situation where it is desperate to create work, but unable to guarantee what the government considers decent pay.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Another such story, related to me by Steve Blank in a recent interview, recounts a desperate situation for another pioneering Silicon Valley electronics manufacturer: Its recipe for doping (preparing) silicon wafers had stopped working.

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The children were hiding in the woods in order not to be taken, it was a desperate situation.

BBC: Domestic violence: Your comments

"I had no education, no job and was desperate, " Hosni told me in a surprisingly clear voice for someone whose situation seemed so dire.

BBC: Tunisia one year on: New trend of self-immolations