However, when the Israelis launched their broad offensive into West Bank towns this week, the protests gained sudden prominence.
They said they gave a green light for an attack on the Serbs in Bihac, but opposed any broader offensive.
General Van Fleet arrived in Korea on April 14, 1951, eight days before the Communists began the first of their last two broad offensives.
Afghanistan is fighting the most serious insurgent activity in four years, and, with the American-led coalition, has mounted a broad offensive across five provinces.
South Africa's efforts to improve relations with Mozambique are part of a broader diplomatic offensive aimed at breaking down hostility on the continent.
In the midst of contracting school budgets and test-oriented curricula, the idea of reviving home economics as part of a broad offensive against obesity might sound outlandish.
The number of guerrillas involved in the most recent attacks is believed to be only a fraction of the 2,000 who took part in the broader offensive earlier this month.
Nonetheless, it's clear that, with the Iraqis leading and the Americans assenting, there will be no broad offensive against the insurgents anytime soon.
So the real goal of any broader offensive in Iraq must be less to wipe out the rebel fighters than to give legitimacy to the government in Baghdad.
The bill approved today is one part of a broad anti-regulatory offensive being mounted by Congressional Republicans.