Instead, she presented a pointed and timely critique of the failure by both the White House and Congress to set clear rules for the treatment of detainees.

But no other sitting Director of Central Intelligence has offered a public critique quite as pointed as Mr. Woolsey's.

Although amusing, the installation offers a pointed critique of wasteful consumerism.

Its theme of reconciliation, achieved in rustic surroundings, was a pointed critique on the social pretensions of emerging middle-class society.

"When Francesco made it, he thought of it as a pointed critique of abuse of power in this country."

Except for one letter comparing Fitz to Bobby Knight, there were hardly any pointed critiques of his coaching style.

The show's most pointed critique of current building trends is Lee Stoetzel's photographic series of "McMansions."

In 1993, a Federal judge gave a law school lecture that attracted more than usual notice for its pointed critique of Roe v. Wade.

Mr. Christie's pointed critique startled many in the legal community because prosecutors rarely publicly criticize other law enforcement officials or explain their decisions not to prosecute.