This is most obvious in Russia s dogged support for Bashar al Assad s regime in Syria.

And, of course, there is the infamous corruption that has dogged Kenya s judiciary and police force for years.

The real picture of dogged progress is far removed from the perception of a government beset by inaction and policy paralysis.

The question of whether to meet with nasty but powerful people has dogged diplomacy since its inception, and both ends of the question have been argued endlessly and inconclusively.

In fact, in these women I discovered that strength is not merely muscular, it is steely resolve when facing fear, quiet endurance when suffering pain and loss as well as dogged resourcefulness when facing deprivation.

Many shared their favorite memories of Politkovskaya, often interviews highlighting her dogged pursuit of the truth here calling attention to the special services' role in the 2002 terrorist attack on Dubrovka theater, which resulted in a hostage crisis.

The real picture of dogged progress is far removed from the perception of a government beset by inaction and policy paralysis. As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh modestly put it I will be the first to say we need to do better.

And, of course, there is the infamous corruption that has dogged Kenya s judiciary and police force for years. Do we seriously believe that law enforcement officials and people in other government agencies will stop taking bribes just because Kenyans have approved a new constitution?

And with the same dogged determination that my father had bred into me since I was such a child he taught me how to sail, knowing I could never see where I was going, I could never see the shore, and I couldn't see the sails, and I couldn't see the destination.