Under these circumstances, argue some, it might be realistic to discard the Lusaka Protocol as a failure and to begin negotiations all over again.

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Specialists said it was too early to consider Thursday's flight a failure and corrective action might be possible.

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If, on the other hand, stocks do rebound, it will be the strength of the rebound that may give us some clues as to how it might withstand a failure by the supercommittee.

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