Mr. Ghani described what he called remarkable exchanges and discussions among delegates ahead of the loya jirga's official opening.

But, the report took three years to publish because of what the unit calls 'political discussions'.

They also attend what are called discussions.

I'd call them exciting discussions.

An administration official called discussions about the aluminum tubes and Iraq's intentions "a normal part of the intelligence process."

At each public meeting, they got healthy dosages of advice before retreating to private caucuses to ingest it in what a member called "quite candid" discussions.

But after a day of what Mr. Lord called "extensive and productive discussions," it appeared that South Korea has not been fully mollified.

"I wouldn't call them earnest discussions," said the spokesman, John E. McArdle.

So the nature of Mr. Bush's schedule, too, is under review and will include a new feature called round-table discussions with small groups of voters.

He added that the Philharmonic had had what he called "ongoing discussions with a number of conductors."