Ambassador of Poland Przemyslaw Grudzinski Back in the Embrace of Europe by John Shaw Przemyslaw Grudzinski, Polandís ambassador to the United States, says his nation has traveled in the blink of a historical eye from a victim of events to an architect of an expanding and unifying Europe. The ambassador says that if the current schedule holds and events cooperate, Polandís remarkable transformation will be celebrated on Dec. 13 when it is formally invited to the join the European Union (EU). That date, the ambassador notes, also marks the 21st anniversary of the imposition of martial law in Poland by Gen. Wojciech Jaruzelski, the former prime minister who, in concert with the Soviet Union, had thousands of Solidarity members arrested during the two-year reign of martial law....more... U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues Pierre-Richard Prosper Pushing for Justice With Genocide Outside International Criminal Court by John Shaw When he served as the lead prosecutor at the first trial before the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda from 1996 to 1998, Pierre-Richard Prosper went through a grisly, grueling and life-transforming experience: He tried to determine what constitutes genocide in the modern world. Prosper, now the Bush administrationís ambassador-at-large for war crimes issues, had gone to Rwanda to probe one of the most stunning killing rampages in history, in which about 800,000 people, mostly Tutsis, were brutally murdered over 100 days of communal barbarism....more... Panel of World Leaders Aims to Slow Flood of Small Arms Sales by John Shaw While most of the world trembles about the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, an independent commission of global leaders close to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan focuses on a narrower but persistent concern: the spread of small arms and light weapons....more...

Culture Section Finding a Balance Flemish-Born Writer Calls for Sustainable Development of Ecosystem by Maurits Coppieters Tightened Security Measures for Airports Point to Industry Transforming Itself by Anna Gawel Few can deny that Sept. 11 forever changed the face of flying in America. The terrorist attacks left in their wake a beleaguered airport system struggling to survive under the weight of massive security overhauls. Airports across the nation, including the Washington, D.C., area, were forced to reassess every detail of their operation: Screening methods had to quickly be improved, procedures rewritten, and security drastically revamped. Ten months later, the struggles are far from over, but what has emerged is a picture of resilience, recovery and, ultimately, a transformed industry....more... Careful Packing Saves Time In Sea of Gloom, Bahamas One of Caribbeanís Brightest Stars by Larry Luxner More than 700 islands and cays make up the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, which at its closest point is only 50 miles from the shores of Florida. Known primarily for its beautiful beaches, luxury hotels and duty-free shopping, this nation of 300,000 people is also making a name for itself as a leading offshore financial center....more... Setting Your Sights on Laser Eye Surgery LASIK Procedure Relatively Safe but Knowing Risks Is Important by Gina Shaw For years, Iíd debated whether or not to get my near-sighted vision corrected through laser eye surgery...more... Questions to Ask Your Eye Surgeon Receiving Line