The

The Hello and welcome behind the news. My name is Doug Henwood. Two guests, two segments today, you may be

shocked to learn. Mosababa, a researcher on Sudan, will talk about the civil war in that country,

one of the most miserable regions in the world. And Jake Adelstein, the American journalist who's

been living in Japan for almost 40 years, will report on Japan's new prime minister, who, among

other things, is a bit of a

Hitler fan girl. I've been watching the humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan for some time now,

but like many provincial Americans, really had little idea of what was going on. I'd

resolved to address that lack, but it wasn't until I read Mosababa's piece on the Black Agenda

Report website that I found a way into understanding

and covering it. The current Civil War dates at 2003, but Sudan has a long history of conflict

and political instability, much of it amplified by outside actors with their own interests.

The human toll has been extraordinary. 12 million people have been displaced, and unknown but high number of people have died

are gone missing.

Millions are on the verge of starvation.

Why?

Here with more is Mosababa, a researcher and activist who specializes in the country.

As is always the case with these things, where do we start?

I mean, Sudan's case, British colonialism, I suppose, would be a good place to start.

But we've only got a certain amount of time. So let's just focus on the war, the current Civil War.

Who are the parties? How did it all get going? And who are the external actors?

Let's start with the parties to the war, which started in 2003. Who are the principal antagonists?

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