While it is unclear how pivotal the weapons have been in the two-year-old civil war, they have helped sustain the opposition against government forces emboldened by aid from Russia, Iran and Hezbollah.
Vocabulary: characterized, intervened, unsubstantiated, orchestrating, devised, savvy, misgivings, pivotal, tactical, hallmark, unconventional weapons, seize, to pepper, disdainfully, civil rights, nondescript, forthcoming, altitude, refrain, anemic, astounded Extension Activities: 1. Compare the Democratic and Republican National Conventions in the 2004 election year.
But like other proponents, Mr. Obama has made the eradication of nuclear weapons a pivotal goal, no matter how distant, to provide a lodestar for world leaders and citizens alike.
The researchers suggest these projectile weapons were pivotal to the success of modern humans as they left Africa and encountered Neanderthals, who apparently possessed only hand-thrown spears.
George J. Tenet, the former director of central intelligence, came to the "pivotal" conclusion that Iraq's weapons-of-mass-destruction program was a "slam dunk" case.
That is particularly odd in light of the recent revelations of the region's pivotal role in the spread of weapons of mass destruction.
Mr. Aziz, who is about 66, played a pivotal role in thwarting efforts by United Nations weapons inspectors in the mid-1990's and lived in a villa on the Tigris River in Baghdad.
Many American officials also believe that Pakistani intelligence may have been involved in helping provide pivotal assistance to the secret North Korean weapons program, which North Korea admitted operating last month.
Iran's allies in Hezbollah have been pivotal in fighting alongside Assad's forces — with weapons supplied by Iran.
In the past, this has been partly offset by the pivotal relationship between Taipei and Washington, which is the main weapons supplier to the island - one of the world's biggest buyers of arms.
