The positive horizontal scenario of Aceh's recovery from the vertical shock of the Asian tsunamis

■"After the Tsunami, An Aceh Surprise: Good Government; Indonesia's Yudhoyono Tackles Legendary Corruptions In $6 Billion Rebuilding," by Peter Fritsch, Wall Street Journal, 2 November 2005, p. A1.

■"Nearly a Year After the Tsunami, Sri Lanka Strife Flares," by Somini Sengupta, New York Times, 2 November 2005, p. A3.

Interesting story about how the rebuild effort in Aceh (long a source of sectarian violence aimed at creating a breakaway state) in Indonesia is not only going well, but changing the political landscape there by engendering good government in a country long known for its rampant corruption.

So the Tsunamis not only revive U.S.-Indonesia military-to-military relations thanks to the positive role played by our forces in the relief effort, the new president (retired general) Susilo Yudhoyono takes advantage of the opportunity to show how an effective and honest SysAdmin effort can do more than rebuild the economy, it can create (or here, repair) a nation where one (in a local sense) did not effectively exist prior (Aceh has long felt ripped off by the distant central government).

The General did the right thing: he sought out local mentors, here, Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore, legendary nation-builder and strong man. Lee told him to get some good planners, mentioning McKinsey & Co., which in turn has apparently donated millions of dollars of free labor to the effort.

The big innovation here: transparent rule sets and a low tolerance for insider deals.

I think the U.S. effort in Iraq could learn from this.

For a contrasting situation, see how little things have changed in Sri Lanka. Where is India on that one? Apparently it's given up all attempts at SysAdmin work there, after years of trying to play peacekeeper.