He described a number of incidents in which Israeli forces launched direct attacks against civilians with lethal consequences.

VOA: standard.2009.09.29

McChrystal described a situation in which the Taliban and related groups are advancing, and said he needs more resources to avoid mission failure.

VOA: standard.2009.09.23

Earlier this month Syria and Turkey signed what is being described as an historic agreement, which allows visa-free travel between the two countries.

VOA: standard.2009.10.27

The United States maintains that the self-described satellite launch would violate U.N.Security Council Resolution 1718, which bans North Korean nuclear weapons and ballistic missile tests, and was approved after Pyongyang's 2006 nuclear test.

VOA: standard.2009.03.12

Does it need refinement in some way?" "And if it does need some adjustment in light of the events that have taken place over the last number of months, including the election and so on, and then what are the implications of that in terms of General McChrystal's resource request?" The secretary said the United States will not abandon its core mission in Afghanistan, which President Obama described as the destruction of the al-Qaida terrorist network, because it is "critical" to U.S.national security.

VOA: standard.2009.10.23