Conventional wisdom is that he was France's far-sighted saviour, accepting almost from the outset that the loss of Algeria was inevitable.

ECONOMIST: Algeria then and now

But his rule was ruined almost from the outset by his decision in July to go to war in Lebanon, where Israel in effect lost the contest to Hizbullah, a Lebanese Shia movement closely linked to Iran.

ECONOMIST: Israel

North Korea violated the framework almost from the outset but nonetheless enticed the Bush administration into negotiations (the six-party talks) to discuss yet again ending its nuclear program in exchange for even more political and economic benefits.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Clinton's unwise trip to North Korea

"Electric motors have great initial torque so as you start the car you're moving right from the outset almost at full torque, " Rubin said.

NPR: Entrepreneur Hopes To Charge Electric-Car Market