Last year the collapse of the Soviet empire and the inevitable reunification of Germany threatened to leave Western Europe on the slow track.

The collapse was an industrial safety event and did not threaten the integrity of the reactor or release any radiation into the environment.

By the same token, the collapse of Enron threatens every status quo.

Now, the collapse of the Communist threat and the explosive political campaign for a balanced budget threaten to return us to 1939.

Black was bitterly disappointed after a disastrous batting collapse threatened to ruin the old boys' Schweppes debut.

The collapse not only has serious implications for the honey industry but could ultimately threaten food production as bees are essential to the pollination of staple crops.

And the collapse here is threatening the financial system of the world's second-biggest economy after the United States.

The collapse of the national economy was threatening to end the general's reign, and he badly needed a miracle of the sort she specialized in.

That's why Mexico's financial collapse threatened to set off a domino effect.

Constant silting and the collapse of flood-banks now threatened Polish trade along its whole length.