The best article I've read this year on what is going on in the world...

...from veteran TIME magazine journalist Michael Ireland (who is also a Christian):

-On the Chinese government's current harshness to missionaries in China: "I think the crackdown by the Chinese is typical of something they always do before a major international event."
-On Myanmar: "It’s I think one of the most corrupt, despotic gangs in charge of any country in the world."
-On North Korea and possible denuclearization: "I don’t think one can ever rely on Kim Jong Il to implement his promises."
-On Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan: "[H]ere’s a woman who was removed from office for corruption twice and has a dossier about 500 pages long at the United Nations. She’s under indictment at various foreign governments. ... [F]or the time being Musharraf has diffused a potentially dangerous situation."
-On Iraq: "I’m of the opinion that the jury is still out on what in the long run could happen."
-On Putin: "I think Russia is very dangerous because you’ve got a leader who thinks that the collapse of communism was the greatest disaster to befall the twentieth century. ... I think we’re going to hear more and troublesome news out of Russia."
-On Christians in the world: "I think one of the great tragedies of modern times from a Christian point of view is the disappearance of Christians from the Middle East ... [O]n the other hand what’s happening in China is just quite extraordinary"

Read the article at AssistNews.net here.