An affirmative answer will bring comfort to exobiologists a group of people whose subject is, at the moment, based on hope rather than reality.

ECONOMIST: Space exploration

Today, we have an enlarged NATO with increasing (though still far from adequate) capabilities, a good plan for streamlining NATO's command structure, a new NATO four-star command focused specifically on military transformation and an affirmative answer once and for all to that old chestnut, can NATO take on a mission out of area.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Transforming the United States Global Defense Post

If you ask anyone if they believe the government and our businesses should consider long-range thinking, again an affirmative would undoubtedly be the answer.

FORBES: An Alignment of Stupid

" The avian academic's answer: "Affirmative action.

WSJ: Best of the Web Today: See You in the Funny Papers

Many will answer the question in the affirmative for the myriad reasons that Cha spells out.

FORBES: 5 Great Mobile Technology Articles You Must Read This Week 9.13.2012

If Plum can answer these questions in the affirmative, it will provide a valuable service to parents and an attractive return to its soon-to-be investors.

FORBES: Plum Rents Clothes As Your Baby Grows

Regrettably, I believe that the answer is surely in the affirmative.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Gaffney testifies on Kyoto

And it is perhaps the need to answer that question in an affirmative way that might compel members of Congress to take a more constructive approach.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney,

They answer without hesitation -- in the affirmative.

CNN: Dr. Sanjay Gupta: A change in mood of 'Devil Docs'

If that means massive intervention, in the shape of affirmative-action programmes and across-the-board benefits for parents of all sorts, the answer is no.

ECONOMIST: Women and work