The success of the all-volunteer force in replacing the draft with a superb fighting force has transformed the armed services into a cohort of highly skilled warriors about whom the general population knows little, and to whom it is not as tied as has historically been the case.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: A world of hurt

Veolia Environmental Services was the other firm fighting to run the incinerator, and whose spokesperson said it believed it was "sympathetic with the local environment and represented a unique opportunity to use the residual waste to provide a secure source of sustainable energy and heat to the neighbouring Tata Steel steelworks - a major source of employment in the area".

BBC: Artist's impression of a Viridor plant in Cardiff

But more and more the keenest gamers are turning for their fix of Quake and other fighting, racing and flying games to services such as the Total Entertainment Network ( www.ten.net), Kali ( www.kali.net) or the Realm ( www.realmserver.com).

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