It quickly became apparent that few of the prisoners captured in Afghanistan were the sort of hardened terrorists the administration had hoped for.

The vice president should be informed that the most hardened terrorist would give up any plan after a long television night of crunching major conference representation.

The F.B.I. also pointed out that any such pardon of the "currently incarcerated terrorists would likely return committed, experienced, sophisticated and hardened terrorists to the clandestine movement."

More than 500 detainees remain in the center, which Pentagon officials once characterized as holding the most hardened terrorists captured in Afghanistan.

The plea bargain reflects the unfolding realities of the Lindh case, which had more to do with the criminal conduct of a foolish young man than the actions of a hardened terrorist.

By the time he left the farmhouse, four hardened terrorists from the Provisional Irish Republican Army were dead.

The prevailing view among Australian law enforcement and intelligence officials is that Mr. Hicks is more of a lost soul than a hardened terrorist.

Soufan testified before his military tribunal that Hamdan was a hardened terrorist, with advance knowledge of the September 11th attacks.

Some Australian officials have characterized him as more of a "lost soul" or a "soldier wannabe" than a hardened terrorist.

They did not look like hardened terrorists.