Now, after the thrillingly quick allied triumph, the pieces are back on the table, leaving the U.S. and its allies with a breathtaking opportunity.

Political experts say her advisers badly miscalculated the degree of support Congress would get to run a government that left all its allies on the outside looking in.

"It would leave our allies in the lurch, erase the progress we've made toward peace, and only cost the United States in the long run."

This left the French and their Native American allies with dominion over the upper Ohio valley.

On 8 August, after eight weeks of effort, Despenser abruptly decided to abandon the siege, leaving his allies to continue on their own.

Today's vote left Mr. Brown and his allies a breath of hope because it turned, at least in part, on complex procedural issues rather than substance.

We cannot leave our allies in the lurch.

Now, having withdrawn from the battle, Mr. Lake leaves his allies and foes holding quite different views of him.

About 250 fled and the remainder (under 600) surrendered, leaving their Indian allies to fight alone.

That could leave the Turkish north and its allies in Ankara to fend off an enemy backed by all of Europe, a potentially explosive situation.