"Clinton really took everyone by surprise," one of Japan's top industrial planners said.

In the 1960s, he directed Cuba Socialista and was top planner guiding orthodox ideologogy.

"I think you've got better strategic sense than most of our top planners, and that's a fact."

That's because local officials enjoy the same sweeping powers held by the government's top central planners.

From 1985 to 1990 he was the top planner at an agency that distributes corn and other subsidized foods.

The man had served as the Qaeda's top planner for external operations, including those directed at the United States.

But top military planners here and in Europe concede that there is little evidence so far to support that estimate.

Mr. Bush's top planners, who watched the focus group discussion through a one-way mirror, immediately saw that they were on to something.

In Washington, however, a top planner at the Energy Department said a lengthy cutoff was "quite unlikely."

Israel regards Mr. Barghouti as a top planner of Palestinian violence.