This may be the crucial test for Mr Dell who, after all, gave his name not just to the firm but to a whole business model (just-in-time, made-to-order manufacturing using an outsourced supply chain), key elements of which have since been adopted by his competitors.

ECONOMIST: Second-act chief executives

Meanwhile, the UK has said it may bypass an EU arms embargo to Syria in order to supply weapons to the rebels.

BBC: Rebel soldier in Homs on

In order to re-supply ammunition, he sprinted across an open field to a wounded comrade.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Awards the Medal of Honor to Specialist Leslie H. Sabo, Jr. | The White House

Expecting an unrestricted food supply to persist, it downgrades its leptin levels in order to maximise fat consumption and storage.

ECONOMIST: Obesity

Everybody else is very keen to get an equity stake in order to get some long-term coal supply.

WSJ: GVK: Bidders Line up for Giant Australian Coal Mine

The Club Med countries have an endless supply of prime assets sitting idle, virtually all of which could be rented out in short order.

FORBES: How A Chinese Economic Policy Could Save Club Med Countries

The Department of Health also holds a strategic reserve of about 400, 000 doses as an "insurance policy" in case there are problems with supply and manufacturers have no vaccine supplies available to order.

BBC: Flu vaccine 'withheld for safety'