Since his proposal would also keep rivals from taking key roles in government, in a capital the Northern Alliance controls, other factions are likely to view the idea of a purely technical cabinet with skepticism.
It would also deprive the rival theocrats in Iran and Saudi Arabia of the opportunity of fighting their war to the last Syrian.
It would also leave the rival BMG partnership established by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, the private equity firm, and Bertelsmann, the German media group, lacking the anchor asset it had been seeking to give it serious clout.
Amid mounting press speculation that a deal was imminent, Allied issued a statement confirming it was in discussions with Pernod about a possible takeover that would also involve U.S. rival Fortune Brands.
It would also infuriate commercial rivals, most notably BSkyB, in which Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation is the largest shareholder, which would face a powerful new competitor.
A decision to forbid EchoStar to buy its only rival would also reflect a rare instance of opposition to a corporate merger by the Bush administration.
The regulators have responded by demanding that AOL and Time Warner put their money where their mouths are -- that in exchange for regulatory clearance, the companies produce a contract with at least one rival Internet service provider that would serve as a model, with terms that other rivals would also find attractive.
He argued that removing advertising from Channel 4 would also bolster its commercial rivals, most notably ITV, which would claim a far greater share of the advertising market.
Any draw for the Blues, coupled with Arsenal scoring two more goals in a one-goal winning margin, would also leave the London rivals tied.
