Politics - Asia latest news

The US Air Force's new slogan, "Air Force - Above All" conveys the basic precept that mastery of the air means mastery of the ground. Yet the air force seeks more than that. It wants to extend its "mastery" to space and even to cyberspace. This is a disturbing manifestation of the military's quest for "full spectrum dominance", achieved at debilitating cost to the American taxpayer - and a potentially destabilizing one to the planet. - William J Astore (retired lieutenant colonel, USAF) (May 8, '08)

Reports of China building a massive strategic naval base capable of housing nuclear-powered submarines on Hainan island in the South China Sea have India on red alert. The fear is not so much that China will launch any offensive against India, but that India is falling far behind in the race to dominate the region's seas. - Siddharth Srivastava (May 8, '08)

Estimates now point to a quarter of a million dead in the cyclone that hit Myanmar, while foreign aid agencies still wait for approval to assist the millions of homeless. For the country's military rulers, the more pressing issue appears to be to galvanize support for Saturday's constitutional referendum, the results of which are already a forgone conclusion in favor of the junta. - Larry Jagan (May 8, '08)

The US Congress is expected to soon impose unprecedented conditions on iraq-related spending, including a ban on major reconstruction projects and support for Sunni militias. The idea is that iraq cough up more money to rebuild itself, while at the same time challenging the wisdom of the 'surge'. - Jim Lobe (May 8, '08)

Fiery and insulting language is increasingly spewing around the globe. It is debatable whether there is a logic behind the combative and irascible words of some world leaders, but the spoken broadsides of a Mahmud Ahmadinejad or a Kim Jong-il are certainly less harmful than the military invasions of a George W Bush. - Sreeram Chaulia (May 8, '08)

There has been a drop in the number of troops deserting from the Afghan National Army, but that is about the only good news. The indigenous force suffers from ethnic divisions, poor logistical support, inadequate training and, crucially, it is far from being able march on its own feet without coalition air cover. (May 8, '08)

A Norwegian documentary follows two elite female Tamil Tigers soldiers as they train to join the Black Tigers - the female arm of the rebel group known for carrying out suicide bombings. Within their ranks the women are revered as heroes, but the film has been panned as glorifying suicide bombers. Either way, the story is ultimately a tragic tale of loss and sacrifice in war.(May 8, '08)