Journalists' claims of objectivity are perhaps imperfectly realized; even so, the hard-line critics protest too much.

The bill, titled the Cuban Solidarity Act of 2001, is the first major legislative proposal by hard-line critics of Mr. Castro in five years.

Still, hard-line critics, some of whom openly oppose the treaty, say the Soviets could reinstall the seven-warhead front ends.

Unlike some hard-line critics, I retain a warm place for nostalgia in my own heart, and for sentiment and uncomplicated beauty, as well.

New companies are being listed each week, the number of investors is surging and hard-line critics have been muzzled.

"He was not a sort of ideological, hard-line critic," said William R. Keylor, a professor of international relations and history.

The move has quieted the hard-line critics who have lamented Moscow's dwindling influence, and has even enabled the President to settle a few scores with some of his political rivals.

That's a far cry from hard-line American critics who have accused Mr. Gorbachev of trying to save Saddam Hussein's skin, divide the allies and start a new cold war.

But after concluding that he could not block NATO's decision, Mr. Yeltsin sought to fend off its hard-line critics by negotiating a face-saving agreement.

Team B was described by The New York Times as "a hand-picked unofficial panel of hard-line critics of recent arms control policy."