A House United Americans often think China's leadership is split between hard-finers moderates. It is not. The sooner Washington understands that Beijing is unified the better

Japan: A Setting Sun the Asian financial crisis had a side benefit: prodding the Japanese government to fix its economy. But as the sense of urgency eased so too did the momentum for change The Liberal Democratic Party never a true champion of reform now blocks deregulation from every angle. Wastrels public spending has created little but debt. the public's trust in its government is all but gone. Recovery would require Japan's politicians to give up the many benefits of the status quo which they will not do without a fight. So, Japan's reforms are stalled permanently. Its economy is Too

Colombia's Two-Front War Colombia is waging a war on two fronts: against guerrillas against drugs. The former cannot be won on the battlefield alone. If the current peace talks fail the country will plunge into all-out chaos. So, the United States needs to take Colombia off the back-burner work with its government to help tamp down the violence limit the drug lords' clout lower the demand for drugs abroad prod the peace process along. Without these steps even billions in U.S. aid will not be enough