Word: staunch
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...Behind the handshakes and platitudes lies a deeper political calculus. Karzai and Zardari began their presidential terms with staunch support from Western capitals - now both have fallen out of favor, faulted for not doing enough to rein in extremists amid accusations of corruption and misrule. A warmer relationship with Russia could be the counterbalance to the West's increasingly frosty and frustrated attitude toward Afghanistan and Pakistan. (See pictures of world leaders...
Every political coalition needs a catchy name. The 1840s had the Know-Nothings, the 1980s had the Boll Weevils, and now there are the Blue Dogs, a group of 52 fiscally conservative Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives whose staunch resistance to the White House's health-care legislation efforts might delay a vote well past President Obama's August deadline. (Read "Why the Blue Dogs Are Slowing Health-Care Reform...
...hard to tell whether the Fed is in any actual danger from its congressional critics. The Administration's proposals for regulatory reform would, on balance, give more power to the Fed than it has now. And House Financial Services Committee chairman Barney Frank remains a staunch Fed defender. "When you have a terrible mess, it is unlikely that those who attempt to alleviate the danger will come out looking clean," he said in Bernanke's defense this morning. Then again, Frank said, the congressional griping will likely continue until the economy begins to show marked signs of improvement - because...
Moscow is particularly unhappy about the E.U.'s offer to include Belarus - traditionally a staunch Moscow ally - in the Eastern Partnership, albeit on the condition that Minsk improve its shoddy human-rights record. When the E.U. recently offered a multibillion-dollar loan to help modernize the Ukrainian pipeline system - conduit for 70% of Russian gas sales to Europe - Russian leaders were furious. Moscow has also tried to foil European attempts to build stronger energy links with Azerbaijan. Potential for conflict exists in Georgia, where E.U. observers are the only ones left after Russia forced Organization for Security and Cooperation...
...spectrum of Iran's establishment, Zarghami and his ally Larijani are considered staunch conservatives, but not in the reactionary mold of Ahmadinejad. While IRIB has enabled the regime's decision to repress the protests, Larijani's criticism of its broadcasts suggests the regime is worried that yet another powerful state institution may become a lightning rod of substantial popular hatred...