In Transparency International's just-released 2009 survey of world corruption, Afghanistan was only one step above the bottom rung,ranking 179th out of 180 countries surveyed.

VOA: standard.2009.11.17

When I say that the Israeli government is making an unprecedented offer even though it is not what many would hope for and even though our position remains the same that settlement activity is not legitimate - nevertheless it holds out the promise of moving a step closer to a two-state solution,".

VOA: standard.2009.11.02