But the bet was carefully hedged with deep cuts in army manpower, announced late last month.
The mores of dating have also been carefully hedged by the Academy.
For a variety of reasons, including the desire to avoid charges of liberal bias, most reporting is carefully hedged.
He knew better, of course, and the opening was carefully hedged with cautions that viewers might find such a subject "inappropriate" or "an offensive issue."
On Wall Street, any optimism about the industry is carefully hedged.
But nothing had come of Teacher's carefully hedged hints of a willingness to become involved in the Foundation's campaign.
Both sides have carefully hedged their participation in the project.
The Mayor's plea for more aid from the state met with carefully hedged support from the Governor and legislative leaders.
Still, predictions are being carefully hedged in a campaign that has already seen wide swings in voter sentiment over the last few weeks.
Within the limits of these carefully hedged bets, the writers move deftly from fantasy to comedy.