Like former President Kenneth D. Kaunda, President Frederick Chiluba, in power since 1991, has acted as a broker in the wars that have consumed the region from the independence struggles of the 1970's to the present-day conflagrations in Angola and Congo.
But given the shabby and vitriolic way that all political parties are behaving at present, a grand conflagration looks more likely.
Staring out most keenly of all were the survivors, those who had been present at the conflagration and who had built new lives and new families in a new home – a home that had never quite known how to embrace them.
And besides the ever-present threat of a terrible conflagration on the Korean peninsular itself, North Korea's development of long-range missiles, and its sales of the technology to American bugbears such as Iran and Syria, have made it a serious global concern to strategists in Washington.But both America and South Korea have cause to worry about the other's policy.
If so, think of Pakistan – whose robust nuclear program presents the risks of accidental conflagration, nuclear trafficking and a jihadist takeover of its deadly arsenal.
This is all to the good if it furthers our understanding of how that terrible conflagration still shapes our difficult present.
Plato's longest commentaries have to do with Mouldwarp, the present time, which came to an end when the population destroyed itself in a general conflagration.
Still, Iran seems to be seeking to present a softer line.The country has little to gain from getting swept up in military conflagration over Syria, particularly as the regime currently has the upper-hand in the civil war and putative American strikes are unlikely decisively to shift that balance.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Coronation Street, The Lowry is presenting Corrie!, a new live show which condenses 7,000 episodes (115 deaths, 37 births, 86 marriages and one conflagration) into a two-hour romp.
