He's scratching every hour he can buy or steal to launch his new economic reforms and replace military leaders with men he can trust.

It is commonly believed that the Moche had conquered the Virú Valley, replacing local leaders with their own leaders.

But Spanish officials acknowledge that E.T.A.'s internal structure has been capable of replacing arrested leaders.

Many Palestinians complain that Mr. Arafat, instead of replacing such leaders, has expropriated their functions using minor aides who are sycophants.

Lack of cooperation was savagely punished, and the Path replaced local leaders with their own supporters, defying the traditional Indian respect for their elders.

But until now, Mr. Gorbachev had made no move to replace aging military leaders with the younger, aggressive kind that he has moved into many civilian leadership posts.

The others had all been chosen by party colleagues in order to replace leaders who had been forced to resign over issues of mismanagement.

The new officials, all under 40 years old, replaced older leaders and brought an aggressive, businesslike style to state government.

There is also fear that an easy victory might translate into dispatching the American military elsewhere to replace leaders.

The democratic system also provides a way to replace inefficient leaders and policies.