In 1552-1553 the King's hand can be discerned behind decisions (and omissions) that directly contravened Dudley's wishes.

The terrorists have indeed won when our own government acts in ways that directly contravene our own principles of justice and fairness.

That prospect "would directly contravene the citizen's right of access to government records" embodied in the law, the ruling said.

He said that if Iraq blocked a resupply effort, "it would be directly contravening a mandate from the United Nations and we would view that very seriously."

Only a belief that directly contravenes an Article of Faith, or that has been explicitly rejected by the Church, is labelled as actual "heresy."

But the moral context is clearly different if officials - in Clark's case, working for an independent executive agency - straightforwardly and directly contravene a minister's recent instructions.

The amendment would also directly contravene both a court order and the statutory requirements of the country's basic law on marine conservation, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which mandates regional fishing plans.

But the larger question, the White House contends, is whether a quasi-independent agency like the Postal Service can take positions in court that directly contravene Presidential orders.

The US position is not just contrary to the spirit of the Doha Declaration: it directly contravenes the letter of the Doha Declaration.