Dealers and their allies among state regulators have strenuously opposed direct sales.

Sudan and its allies have resolutely opposed outside intervention, like the deployment of foreign peacekeeping forces.

But America's European allies, who had thousands of peacekeeping troops on the ground, vehemently opposed such a move.

But the Bush administration and its Republican allies in the House has opposed covering the costs.

The Bush administration and its Iraqi allies strongly opposed that step because it would have excluded the death penalty.

He knows Congress and the allies strongly oppose his grandiose ideas.

The Clinton Administration and its environmental allies oppose them.

But business groups and their allies in Congress still vehemently oppose the rules, saying the costs will far exceed the benefits for most employers.

In part because our allies flatly oppose arming the Bosnians.

Not surprisingly, the mutual fund industry and its allies in Congress are opposing the reform.