He told Meet the Press that last week's Afghan presidential election was historic, given the level of intimidation voters faced from the Taliban.

VOA: standard.2009.08.23

Israel and Turkey were until recently close allies both on a military and political level, but since the Israeli attack on Gaza last year, relations have rapidly deteriorated.

VOA: standard.2010.06.01

The current level is already nearly double what the United States had in Afghanistan last year, and some officials, including Secretary Gates, have expressed reluctance to send more.

VOA: standard.2009.08.11

The title for the Black Satellites is the first for an African team at the Under-20 level, despite the dominance of African nations in the youth categories over the last decades.

VOA: standard.2009.10.17

In fact,U.S.and NATO military commanders say insurgent violence rose nearly 60 percent between the first six months of this year, compared to last year the highest level of violence since 2001 when the Taliban government was ousted by US.led forces.

VOA: standard.2009.06.15

It also comes in the wake of the Pope's visit, which I think is also setting the groundwork for sort of a cultural dialogue, an attempt to have a new start at the level of symbols and culture and try and erase some of the hostility of the last 8 or 9 years,".

VOA: standard.2009.05.09