"I am happy that the international observers have acknowledged that these were the best elections ever held in Armenia in its 15 years of independence," he said in an e-mail message.

Many observers, even those critical of some industry decisions, acknowledge that the current situation is particularly difficult.

And most observers here acknowledge that the overwhelming popularity of the Iraqi operation will give her new ammunition.

"Nose is cold," the observer acknowledged.

Were the cases of poisoning and disease, now acknowledged as extraordinary by virtually all observers, the result of natural contamination or warfare?

More-objective observers acknowledge that low scores are symptoms not of poor management, but of poor test-taking skills common in lower-income, racially and ethnically diverse and largely transient school populations.

Haitian political observers and international election coordinators, including the O.A.S. secretary general, José Miguel Insulza, acknowledged the problems.

He appealed to common sense when describing current events and explaining public administration strategies, something that political observers acknowledged as being extremely effective, while critics dismissed as demagogy.

By the 1980s, observers in both North America and Europe were acknowledging the emergence of a New Age political "ideology".

By now, however, even the observer who remains skeptical of the value of such completist ventures must acknowledge the players' sincerity.