When it hit land, the constant rain caught the region off guard.

ECONOMIST: After Mitch

Mr Bush had to act in part because allowing near-warfare between Israelis and Palestinians was becoming even more damaging to American interests in the region than Mr Clinton's constant meddling.

ECONOMIST: Uncle Sam to the rescue

Despite the fanfare surrounding last week's arrival of 1, 000 American paratroopers at a muddy airstrip 30 miles north of Irbil, and the constant flow of men and materiel to the region, Kurdish officials admit that the northern front will be a considerably downsized affair.

ECONOMIST: Some useful joint house-cleaning against extremists

At the same time, part of what has held the region back at times is kind of a constant refrain of the old debates of the past.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

Honore also said he was trying to keep up constant communication with his troops, who are worried about their own families in the affected region.

CNN: Military's Katrina mission nears end

Our EMEA region experienced a fifth consecutive quarter of year-over-year revenue decline as pro forma revenues in constant dollars were down 6% and 8%, respectively, on a sequential and year-over-year basis.

FORBES: Avnet FY Q1 Profits Inch Past Revised Guidance; Shrs Gain