"Punitive policies and practices only hamper the global AIDS response."

In the letter, Mr. Fetherston wrote that Hartford's policy prohibiting volunteer participation would "severely hamper the volunteer firefighting operations within our communities."

Respectfully, sir, this policy can and will hamper the efficiency of said aide and said team.

Margaret Carroll, executive director of the Investor Responsibility Research Center, said investors were beginning to realize that sloppy environmental policies could hamper the financial performance of companies.

Still, there is little evidence that the policy has hampered discussion; the mall has been the most hotly debated issue since the proposal of a dog track several years ago.

And even when a threat has been recognized, conflicting national policies hamper the W.H.O.'s ability to control the response to it.

This policy is hampering the potential for economic growth in developing countries.

Shifting policies towards tax harmonisation or a common consolidated tax base will only further aggravate the gaps in economic development and hamper cohesion.

Underlying the German position is a fear that the American policy will hamper Germany's research capability, which is said to have broad commercial applications.

And tighter monetary policy could hamper domestic investment by raising interest rates.