Who are the insurgents? : Sunni Arab rebels in Iraq
• Building a profile of a typical anti-coalition Sunni Arab insurgent in Iraq is a daunting task. Demographic information about the insurgents is fragmented, and the rebels themselves are marked more by their heterogeneity than by their homogeneity. Drawing from a wide array of sources, however, we can try to piece together a view of their primary motivations for taking up arms against the U.S.-led occupation.
THE WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY
Israel enters a new peace process at a time of considerable short4erm safety and Iong4erm uncertainty. The social and demographic consequences of the Gulf War have not fully expressed themselves on the politics of the region, while the military role of Iraq in the future is hard to anticipate. Under such circumstances widely varying interpretations of Israel's security situation have emerged both in the U.S. and Israel,
Cytogenetics of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)
Myelodysplasia is the most prevalent diagnosis in referrals to my Department for chromosome studies, due not only to the increasing age of the population but also to the ability to define them more satisfactorily according to the FAB classification. The question which should be asked is: what is the usefulness of chromosome analysis in the diagnosis and management of patients with MDS? Where the presence of MDS is suspected, the finding of a chromosome abnormality in the marrow can confirm the suspicion; however the absence does not refute it, as many MDS have normal chromosomes particularly in the less malignant group i.e. RA and RARS. In general, the complexity of the karyotype correlates with prognosis i.e. the more complex the more rapid the conversion to AL. The complex karyotype also correlates with the more malignant FAB varieties viz. RAEB and RAEBT. Some simple abnormalities have more prognostic significance than others viz. -7 has a poor prognosis and 5q- a good prognosis. These features are important when deciding if and when to institute therapy. Overall, MDS appears to be increasing in our ageing population so that any help which can be provided in diagnosis, management and prognosis, is welcome. Cytogenetic studies can be useful in many of these situations as well as providing a mechanism for studying the fundamental nature of the disorders.