Several senior American commanders in Iraq and Kuwait, or who have recently returned, expressed mixed feelings about the use of private security companies.

American military commanders express cautious optimism that the underlying trends indicate trouble for the insurgents.

The commander then expressed disappointment that the column hadn't yet been cut off and destroyed.

In recent days its residents and military commanders expressed little concern that the Taliban could ever mount a serious attack.

The survivors were sent back over the river, and the German commanders expressed irritation over the methods applied by their counterparts.

It came about that the commander expressed all his anger when he read the paper with the signature of Ansuini.

According to the Israeli press, senior military commanders had expressed reservations about some of the security understandings reached in Davos.

Some paramilitary commanders openly expressed their support for Plan Colombia.

Although Iraq's capital is now under military control, civil order has not yet been restored, and military commanders expressed extreme caution about the road ahead.

"The commanders have expressed a concern about that," Mr. Gates said.