Iraq, which has not been permitted to sell oil abroad except for limited sales to neighboring Jordan, is plainly eager to regain its place as one of the world's leading oil merchants.

He was plainly eager, as usual, for action.

After a prolonged stalemate under the last Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Palestinians are plainly eager to see tangible gains toward a broader peace.

Robert Grant Burns still tried to sound non-committal, but he was plainly eager to hear all that she had to say.

Mr. Assad and his Government were plainly eager for high-level attention.

Both the Punjabi sowars and the Ghoorka sepoys were plainly eager to come to grips with the Kumbalaris.

The man was plainly eager to hasten on with his fellows, and just as obviously reluctant to be seen in the company of the half-wit and his keepers.

The lawyer was plainly eager to tell his story, but spent several minutes making sure that any account he gave a reporter would be scrubbed of details that could identify the partner.

More generally, Mr. Gorbachev is plainly eager to improve his country's human rights image abroad.

Mind, when John Kerry appeared on "The Daily Show," Stewart wasn't much less egregious, too plainly eager to boost his guest's nonexistent hipness quotient.