On the other hand, in 2005 France joined forces with the US to expel the Syrian military from Lebanon after the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Iran 2, Israel 0

If you caught our initial hands-on, one point that still resonates with us is how small it feels in hand.

ENGADGET: Samsung Focus 2 review Mobile

The continued shortening of the iPhone lead time goes hand in hand with my earlier posting on November 15 that also described how the major US carriers lead times had gone to immediate availability.

FORBES: Apple's iPhone 5 Web Site Lead Times Down to 1 Week

But I also made it clear that we'll call them out when they say they want to work with us and we extend a hand and get a fist in return.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Takes Questions from Senate Democrats

Let us seize the opportunity to forge ahead, hand in hand, and work together to enhance cooperation as partners, and let us work with all other countries to build a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity.

WHITEHOUSE: China State Visit Arrival Ceremony

On the other hand, we believe that the steps we took and the steps they took in partnership with us have positioned these companies to where they have a real chance of success.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

During a nostalgic weekend, Kevin Schwantz was on hand to regale us with the inside story of his final career victory here in 1994, when he had to hold the throttle open down the straights with his left hand - despite a dislocated wrist - just to shake some feeling back into his fractured right hand.

BBC: Matt Roberts' MotoGP column

So as far as the Middle East and Central Asia are concerned, a primary lesson of the Cold War relates to the relative weight the US can securely place in its alliance with Israel on the one hand, and its alliance with the Saudis on the other.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: America's best friends

Iraqi leaders have demanded that the US government end its association with Blackwater in Iraq within six months and hand over the contractors involved in the 16 September incident.

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