Despite their erratic league form, Labbadia had led his troops to the verge of a European final.

BBC: Hamburg axe coach Bruno Labbadia

The head of the NATO-led peacekeeping force in Kosovo said his troops would step up border patrols on the Macedonian-Kosovo border after reports of incursions by ethnic Albanian fighters.

CNN: Fighting on Macedonia-Kosovo border

Brannon described Hutchins, 23, from Plymouth, Massachusetts, as an "outstanding Marine" who led his infantry squad in a dangerous area where troops had to battle stress and attacks from insurgents.

CNN: U.S. squad leader convicted in Iraqi killing

Still, his hypercautious reluctance to send troops into danger led him at that time to take a position no different from isolationists in practice, though different in principle.

ECONOMIST: The world in their hands | The

In late 1990, the United Nations had decreed, in an ultimatum, that if Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein did not remove his troops from Kuwait, then an authorized coalition led by the U.S. would do it for him.

FORBES: General H. Norman Schwarzkopf: Negotiator and Military Man

Bolivia's recently elected socialist president, Evo Morales, led troops into a Brazilian-run gasfield and unveiled a decree nationalising his country's oil and gas industry.

ECONOMIST: Politics this week | The

Earl Haig, who says he has received "hate mail" because of his father's reputation, says te perception that British troops were "lions led by donkeys" is extremely hurtful.

BBC: News | UK | Earl Haig: Villainous victor?

His government has strong U.S. backing, has contributed troops to the American-led war in Iraq and applied for membership in NATO.

CNN: U.S.: Russia trying to topple Georgian government

And indeed, President Hollande has announced that he will fulfill his campaign pledge of withdrawing combat troops, but there will remain a presence within the NATO-led mission of ISAF through the end of that mission, which is the end of 2014.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing on NATO Defense Capabilities