ISO, I am still wondering how/where would you fit Hong Kong's prosperity in your theory of tyrannies' success in the 4 Little Dragons? (Or is it the 4 Asian Tigers? You've gotten me confused now! :D) So, I still believe STRATEGICAL GEOGRAPHIC ADVANTAGE contributed tremendously more than anything else in the success of Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea. I have always wanted to read something on Singapore's Lee Kuan Yu, and I am now more inspired to look into ordering a book on him and Singapore. Any suggestions? Until I read that, I must admit I am incapable of indulging in discussions about specifics in that country's history, politics and economic success. Now, more on Nepal... You say, first good education. First of all, ISO, allow me to ask you this: How would you rate Panchayat's success in educating the Nepali people? For me, I see it as an utter failure. Mind you, as I have hinted time and again, good education entails much, much more than just being able to read and write -- educated people must also be able to take part responsibly and healthily in a civil society. Since I have utmost distrust of anything remotely resembling the Panchayat era, and this takeover by KING G is, I am afraid, looking more and more like a return to Panchayat, I must say the prospects of Nepalis being given proper education in his current reign is very dim. Furthermore, I think it is very dangerous to put undue importance on peace and security. Yes, of course, almost every Nepali must be extremely frustrated with the violence, and their deep yearning for peace is completely understandable. But on a leadership level, if they fall into the trap of "security first and foremost, at any cost," I am apprehensive about the fact that they might neglect other very critical social issues that they need to address. We need education, food, shelter, and, MOST OF ALL, we need to totally dismantle and annihilate the hierarchical (caste) system, as badly as we need security. I am not at disagreement with you when you say we need security before we can get any of the above, but those issues need not get sidelined either, NOT EVEN for the moment, while we wait for peace to prevail. KingG's choice of cabinet members clearly suggests that he is still surrounded by -- at least at the advisory level -- people who have primitive ideas about governance, by those who still believe in FORCE and LOYALTY in their method of ruling. Therefore, in this environment, I am afraid the new government will only exhaust all their energy and resources in the military, while mostly neglecting other critical social issues, that some people's dream of this King now finally raising the literacy level, alleviating poverty, etc., of Nepal will collapse like the house of cards. Of course, all this is only speculation on my part, and we have yet to see the actual results. Nevertheless, I am allowed to make speculations based on well-calculated observations on my part, I hope. Finally, ISO, in a nutshell, here's why I believe this new government under the direct rule fo KingG is going to fail Nepal: 1. Tyrannies never succeed in meeting the actual needs of the people. Every tyrant's genuine concern will be on how to consolidate his own power, which will sideline the people's interests. I am not in a position to question his genuine desire to help the people -- he may have perfectly fine intentions. However, tyrannies by definition, AND by their reason-d'etre -- by the mere fact that they will have to be consumed with consolidation of their own power -- that they are bound to neglect the actual needs of the people. 2. Panchayat was clearly an abject failure, and anything remotely resembling that system is bound to go down the same path. 3. KingG's government's focus will mostly be on DEMANDING LOYALTY (as reflected by his order to ban press freedom and curtail other civil liberties) and THE USE OF FORCE to gain that loyalty, which will mean this government's ideology will only reflect the notion of "for the military, by the military, with the military." This means their policies will inevitably turn blind eyes and deaf ears to the real needs of ordinary Nepalis.