Ambassador of Kenya Yusuf A. Nzibo Kenya Recovers From Terror Outbreaks by Larry Luxner Yusuf Abdulrahman Nzibo was working only half a mile from the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi when it was ripped apart five years ago by a powerful car bomb. ìMy first reaction was that it was an internal coup. All the phones went dead,î he says, recalling that horrible day. ìBlood was flowing all over.î The August 1998 attack left 231 people dead and more than 5,000 injured. Besides the immediate destruction, it forever shattered the image of Kenyaósynonymous in American minds with majestic African safaris and ìThe Lion Kingîóas a peaceful country immune from the savagery of international terrorism. Nzibo, today Kenyaís ambassador to the United States, says the 1998 bombing and another one last year against an Israeli-owned hotel in Mombasa have scared away tourists and crippled an economy already weakened by corruption, AIDS and low commodity prices for Kenyaís main exports, tea and coffee. more... Center for Strategic and International Studies President John Hamre Top Security Analyst Studies Postwar Challenges in Iraq by John Shaw John Hamre was given an opportunity earlier this year that most think-tank executives only dream about. Hamre, president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), was asked by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Ambassador Paul Bremer, head of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad, to take a group of foreign policy experts to Iraq and assess the U.S.-led effort to rebuild that nation. more.... Panama Marks 100 Years of Independence and Seeks Free Trade Agreement With U.S. by Larry Luxner Exactly 100 years ago this month, Panamaówith a little help from the United Statesódeclared independence from Colombia and signed an agreement giving the U.S. government the right to build and own what would soon become the worldís busiest canal. more.... Researchers Working Toward Early Warning System for Alzheimerís by Gina Shaw The number of people with Alzheimerís disease worldwide is growing at such a rate that by the year 2020, experts predict that some 22 million people will have developed the disease, and by 2050, that number may climb to 45 million. more.... Arab Ambassadorsí Wives Help Keep Mosaic Together by Carolyn Chapman Itís only mid-October, but Rim Abboud and Nermin Fahmy are already discussing possible menu items for the Mosaic Foundationís annual benefit dinner in May. But this is not just an ordinary dinner, the Mosaic Foundation is not just an ordinary charitable foundation, and Abboud and Fahmy are not ordinary women. more.... 35th Meridian Ball Dazzles D.C. by John Shaw and Katherine Tallmadge On Oct. 2, more than 600 people attended the 35th annual Meridian Ball for a sparkling evening of fun, splendid conversation and support for one of Washingtonís most important institutions. more....

Culture Section Check out the arts section for the latest in museum exhibits, dance, theater and much more. German Envoy Says Bilateral Relations on Mend by Larry Luxner Germanyís traditional postwar friendship with the United Statesóseverely strained over the recent crisis in Iraqóseems to be back on track following a Sept. 24 meeting in New York between President Bush and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. ìWhat that session did was eliminate, once and for all, the difficulties that had arisen because of Iraq,î said Germanyís ambassador in Washington, Wolfgang Ischinger. ìBoth leaders agreed to put these difficulties behind them and move forward together.î more.... Kings of the Road Land Rover, Volvo Offer Distinct SUV Driving Experience by Karl Ferguson Sport utility vehicles, or SUVs as they are more commonly known, are taking over the roads. And this craze is reflected in the wide availability of SUVs: There isnít a single major carmaker today that doesnít offer at least one SUV model for sale in the United States. Not surprisingly, this is changing the way manufacturers approach the SUV market, which in turn is changing the vehicles that we drive. more.... See Also: Top SUVs on the Market Swedish Ambassador Reflects on Slain Colleague, Friend by Gail Scott Sept. 11, 2001, will always be a day Americans and their friends around the world remember with horror. But for Swedes, and in particular Swedish Ambassador Jan Eliasson, this past Sept. 11 was again a morning that began with terrible, unthinkable news. Anna Lindh, Swedenís highly respected and beloved foreign minister, died at 9:30 in the morning on Sept. 11, 2003, after being repeatedly stabbed the day before in a Stockholm department store. more.... Where Living Is Easy High-End Apartment Complexes Offer Resort-Style Amenities by Alan B. Nichols Embassy personnel searching for a viable alternative to a house could scour the Washington metro area for weeks and not come up with a wiser choice than the luxury apartments at the Grand in North Bethesda, Md., the Metropolitan of Arlington, Va., and 3883 Connecticut Avenue in Washington, D.C. more.... Ambassadors Raise Funds for MS by John Shaw and Katherine Tallmadge The 2003 Ambassadorís Ball was an evening brimming with glitter, glamour and generosity. more....