There is still the case of the forgotten imbroglio in Somalia, whose neglect on our part may be short sighted if not totally counterproductive.

Recent months have seen dozens of suicide bombings and other terrorist activities the price of Pakistan s own past blunders, as well as those of the West. Afghanistan is a prime example, as is the failure to settle the Kashmir imbroglio with India.

In Vietnam, inflation has hovered near 20 or more, with the government seemingly unwilling to embrace deeper reforms. Thailand s interminable political imbroglio has left its economy at stall speed the reformist zeal of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has petered out in his second term following the departure of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Japan seems to remain in a state of suspended animation.