Pakistani Bombings

• Benazir Bhutto, the former female prime minister of Pakistan, returned to the country after several years of self-imposed exile.
• Upon her re-entry, two suicide bombers detonated explosives next to her convoy, killing over 140 individuals.
• The bombers are thought to be affiliated with Al-Qaeda.
• Al-Qaeda cells within Pakistan resent Ms. Bhutto because she is a woman and she advocates U.S military intervention to fight Taliban forces near the Afghan border.
• Some also suggest that forces, aligned with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, had intelligence alerting them of the bombing but Ms. Bhutto has been reluctant to implicate Pakistan’s leader.
• Musharraf, for his part, has said that he warned Ms. Bhutto of the potential for suicide bombings but she refused to delay her return any further.
• Ms. Bhutto is a controversial figure within Pakistan. While some see her as a democratic and pragmatic leader, others assert that she is an extremely corrupt politician. Indeed, Ms. Bhutto and her husband were implicated in several money laundering schemes when she was prime minister of Pakistan.
• The Swiss judicial system has convicted Ms. Bhutto of money-laundering however she continues to appeal the ruling.
• Though Benazir Bhutto hopes to re-enter Pakistani politics it remains to be seen whether she can overcome her past indiscretions and violent internal opposition.

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Reconciliation in Burma?

• In 1962, democratic rule in Burma ended when General Ne Win led a military coup d’etat.
• For 26 years he proceeded to pursue policies under the Burmese way to Socialism.
• Since Ne Win seized power, all protests against the government have been countered with military enforcement—often resulting in death and imprisonment.
• In 1988, Ne Win’s regime was replaced, after another coup led by General Saw Maung and the SLORC (State Law Restoration Council).
• Maung’s regime enforced military-law, suspended the constitution, and killed many citizens.
• In 1989 Maung agreed to hold free elections.
• The National League of Democracy (NLD), a coalition party, ran opposite Maung.
• Aung San Suu Kyi led the NLD and gained support after multiple fervent speeches advocating democracy.
• The SLORC, responding to the nationwide support for Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD, placed Aung San Suu Kyi and other members of the NLD under house arrest.
• The SLORC then began a campaign centered upon fear and intimidation.
• Even though the NLD won by a landslide, 392:485, the SLORC refused to acknowledge the results of the election.
• In 1991 Aung San Suu Kyi received the Nobel Peace Prize.
• Four years later her house arrest was revoked, but she was still confined to certain areas of Burma.
• In 2000 the newly renamed officials, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), rearrested Aung San Suu Kyi, only to release her two years later after talks, moderated by a UN negotiator, took place between the SPDC and NLD.
• On Thursday, Aung San Suu Kyi met with a newly appointed Burmese government official.
• The UN hopes this meeting will be the beginning of a reconciliation between Suu Kyi and the government of Burma

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Wildfires in California

• Last Sunday multiple, separate wildfires broke out in Southern California, particularly in the region surrounding San Diego.
• Many predicted the probability of such fires this season. The season has been the driest of the past three years causing a large brush buildup, which fuels many fires.
• The Santa Ana winds that blow through the region have helped the fires spread rapidly and increased their destructiveness.
• Due to the fires, 500,000 people have been evacuated from their homes.
•  2,000 residences have burned down.
• Seven people have died in the fires.
• In an attempt to avoid a similar disaster to the lack of government aid in New Orleans after to Hurricane Katrina, President Bush has responded quickly to the fires.
• On Thursday he traveled to the region to assess the situation on the ground and has canceled other events and speeches to address the crisis.
• California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has also been very active in providing aid for those affected by the fires, significantly boosting his approval rating.
• One of the larger fires, the Santiago Fire of Orange County, has been confirmed as arson.
• Experts agree whoever started the fire most likely had knowledge about the ways in which the fire would spread.
• Military and National Guard troops have been sent to many counties to help battle the raging fires.

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