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JUST when Egypt appeared to be getting its economic house in order, Islamic extremists are trying to burn it down. Last year terrorist teams fired on trains carrying tourists near [...]

An obituary is presented for Bill Rusher, best known for his debating skills and conservative political views.

Holiday in Cambodia NORTHERN CAMBODIA--A full moon; softly, noiselessly, forty miles and thirty hours from their border crossing, 150 guerrillas infiltrate three target areas. One-third surround a defended munitions dump; [...]

Comments on the situation of Cambodians during the Vietnam War. Unwillingness of Cambodians to accede to the communist ideals of the Vietcong; Alleged betrayal by Cambodian Prince Norodom Sihanouk of the Cambodian people and the country; Attitude of the Cambodians toward Prince Sihanouk.

The article discusses the effort of the U.S. to maintain a solid bilateral relationship with Columbia and Great Britain. Over the years, the country has enjoyed the wonderful bilateral relationships with its bilateral counterparts since World War II. The country admits that despite the solid bilateral relationship, there are some areas that are not perfect including the failure by the Congress to approve the U.S.-Colombia free-trade agreement, political and military issues.

The article reports on the support that the U.S. government should give to the Honduran government in ousting former Honduran President Manuel Zelaya. It is mentioned that the Honduran Supreme Court removed Zelaya from office, then the Congress voted for his removal as he attempted to perpetuate himself in power. According to Roberto Micheletti, Honduran president, what happened in the country was democracy in action that their constitution is still relevant and democracy is still alive.

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience of visiting Caracas, Venezuela.

The article reports on the expansion plans of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez for El Salvador as influenced by drug lords to find safer routes from Columbia and Ecuador to the U.S. markets. It tells that the upcoming presidential elections in March will determine Chavez's control of Latin America's political future. It adds that Chavez and his cohorts were tagged financially and logistically on the cocaine shipment to the U.S. from Venezuela via the Dominican Republic.

The article focuses on the agreement of Colombia and the U.S. regarding the punishment for Colombian drug traffickers in the U.S. Colombian president Alvaro Uribe urged American courts to respect Colombia's minimum-sentencing regulations of drug traffickers expedited from Colombia. However, U.S. courts cannot identify the limit on how "little" punishment a Colombian drug trafficker who violates the U.S. law may be sentenced.

The author reflects on the release of leftist Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt along with 14 other male hostages from the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) guerillas in July 2, 2008. He comments on the attention received by Betancourt after her release, stating that she is not quite deserving for that. An overview of how was Betancourt captured is presented. The author suggests that Betancourt's behavior problems are beyond ingratitude.

The article offers information on the revolutions and terrorism in Colombia. It mentions how the country suffered several murderous activities under the Fuerza Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) and Ejército de Liberacion Nacional (ELN) and cites that there are demonstrations, which were participated by approximately 10 million citizens to ward-off such killings.

The article offers observation on Iran's threat to peace. It suggests that the country orchestrated the Hezbollah-Israel conflict as its latest offensive act using the radical Shia organization. It discusses the country's campaign to establish radical beachheads in Latin America. It argues against the efforts of Tehran to establish relations with countries in the Tri-Border region.

The article looks at the approach used by the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush in fostering unity in Iraq through autonomy. The Arab world's authoritarian culture extends to Baghdad, Iraq's capital, requiring resolution and clear codification in law of any form of government. At the leadership level, good judgment increasingly looks likely to prevail. The agreement on a prime minister and cabinet means politicians on all sides are at last being realistic, causing the U.S. government to infer that the Iraqis have a clear understanding of the virtual impossibility of creating an effective, strong central government.

This article features several professionals who have the desire to make a significant contribution to the process of reconstructing Afghanistan. Ishaq Shahryar made the first contribution of time and talent. A successful inventor and manufacturer of low-cost photovoltaic solar cells and a U.S. citizen since 1967, Shahryar resigned his business interests and citizenship to serve as Afghanistan's first ambassador to the U.S. in 24 years. Zahira Zahir, cosmetologist and hair stylist to presidents, was determined to do everything possible to help Afghan women return to formal education, after being blocked for eight years by the fanatic Islamist Taliban regime.

Comments on an article on the spread of influenza in 1920, published in a previous issue of the periodical 'Smithsonian.'