Myanmar is now deftly playing the same multi-alignment game mastered by countries such as Kazakhstan in trying to escape the Soviet-Russian sphere of influence: courting all sides and gaining whatever one can from multiple great powers and neighbors while giving up as little autonomy as possible.

CNN: From Burma to Myanmar: Land of rising expectations

Mackail-Smith's body alignment issues put pressure on his hips, resulting in periodic niggles such as his current groin problem.

BBC: Mackail-Smith aims for game time

Global health commodities obey the same laws of economics as any other commodities: shaping markets to bring supply and demand into alignment will yield significant improvements in the delivery and availability of key products such as oxytocin and magnesium sulfate.

FORBES: Building a Thriving Marketplace for Life-Saving Commodities

Moreover, critical US national security interests, such as the stability of the Egyptian-Israeli peace agreement, Egypt's 35-year strategic alignment with America following Sadat's pivot away from the Soviet Union, and the fate of the Arabian Peninsula's oil-and gas-producing regimes, justifiably weigh in the balance for Washington's decision-makers, and the West as a whole.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: How to make Egypt safe for democracy