1.   Poor in natural resources, Afghanistan has been ravaged by years of drought as well as war.

2.   Ravaged by years of war, Afghanistan has no modern factories, telecommunications networks or banking systems worth hitting.

3.   Ravaged by years of civil war, the East African country has almost no effective government.

4.   But John Paul touched on the difficult history of the region, ravaged by years of religious wars as monarchs and church leaders tried to impose faith by force.

5.   The games are an attempt to boost tourism in state ravaged by years of secessionist violence.