Top Republicans have been divided on how much to tinker with Social Security, given strong Democratic opposition, its less significant contribution to the budget deficit and the political explosiveness of making any changes to the program.
Given strong Democratic opposition and qualms even among some Republicans about changing rules they might later want to use, it seems unlikely that Dr. Frist will reach that threshold.
Under the law that established the commission, its term may be extended by two years, but there is doubt that this will happen, given strong political opposition from the conservative-dominated government and Parliament, which appoint most of its top officials and control its budget.
President Barack Obama's announcement last month that he would be shelving plans for military bases in the Czech Republic and Poland part of a missile defense shield has already provoked criticism, given strong Russian opposition to those plans.
The Russian Institute for Strategic Studies has a branch office in Belgrade, and Reshetnikov had given strong backing to the anti-Nato opposition party in Montenegro.
Asked if that surprised him, given his strong opposition to change in 1992, he said: "Am I surprised that reality is much better than the demagoguery?
The European Union's embargo on shipment of arms to Syria will expire at the end of May, unless all 27 members vote to extend it — an unlikely situation, diplomats said, given the strong opposition of Britain and France to the ban.
It will be the government that makes the final decision and given the strong opposition in the cabinet to Heathrow, the final chapter may come out in favour of Gatwick".
Given the strong opposition of the data collection lobby (Google, Facebook, etc), it is unlikely there will be any legislation soon, leaving both U.S and EU citizens unprotected," said Jeff Chester, executive director, Center for Digital Democracy, in a statement.
