Even ostensible allies have a hard time getting along.

The campaign was complicated by the machinations of their ostensible allies, the Iberian rulers of Tao-Klarjeti.

The Senate Republicans, Mr. Pataki's ostensible allies, said this week that they felt betrayed by the vetoes.

Once an ardent East German Communist, the author grew to criticize her Government while also being its ostensible ally.

In the distance, you'll see your ostensible ally, the USA, also heading down the same road to ruin.

Other ostensible allies steered clear in the interests of their own careers.

Of far greater concern, according to American, European and Afghan officials, is Pakistan, America's ostensible ally against terrorism.

He said the Governor, his ostensible ally, had handled the budget issue badly.

"Making all foreign government information presumptively classified," he said, "means we're lowering our openness standard to the lowest common denominator of our ostensible allies."

For ostensible allies united against the re-opening, Lanier thought Mason was being remarkably uncongenial to Korzenowski.