"I think the United States. can certainly be of assistance. I think that one of the things that a 'strong horse' does is not just punish his enemies but he rewards and protects his friends."

VOA: standard.2010.03.18

Defense analyst Michael O'Hanlon is with the Brookings Institution in Washington: "You had friends and enemies everywhere on the battlefield, and so that,for the most part, meant that if you got into trouble as a westerner you had potential help not too far away."

VOA: standard.2010.04.06