Unfortunately, this is no joke: to the delight of Al Qaeda, America's overstretched armed forces are gradually getting chewed up in a losing struggle.

And it would mean no let-up in the risks and hardships for America's overstretched forces.

Attacks on Spanish possessions, such as the amphibious assaults launched during the War of Jenkins' Ear ended in failure for the British as their overstretched forces failed to overcome well led defensive actions.

Do it on the cheap, use Brazilian troops and a handful of nukes, to not divert our own overstretched forces.

Only the utter ruthlessness of one ravaged, machine-sustained tyrant and the overstretched forces of his fierce yet fragile Imperium kept the human race tottering along its fraying tightrope.

Much of the area had been flooded to assist the overstretched German forces in their defence.

The idea is to open a northern front that could complement the main attack from Kuwait and therefore enable the United States and its allies to quickly overwhelm Iraq's overstretched forces.

Hearing the news of the disaster, all other overstretched nationalist forces withdrew and ended the campaign to rest and regroup for future actions.

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) claimed that the NRC was merely a convenient device for guaranteeing effective mutual aid for overstretched forces.

He kept his head in battle and, though not a great tactician, avoided defeat by the overstretched forces of his lawful sovereign.