PERISCOPE

--Michael Hirsh

Taiwan: The Secret of Ma's Success

With Ma Ying-Jeou's victory in the July 16 party vote for the Kuomintang chairmanship, the stage is set for him to make a run at Taiwan's presidency in 2008. That should please Beijing, since Ma opposed formal independence for the island during his campaign. The KMT favors closer ties with China, and the telegenic Ma's clean reputation and popularity--especially among women and young voters--gives the party its best hope for snatching back power from the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party, which took over in 2000.

It's far too early for Beijing to break out the champagne, however. Ma's plan to clean up the KMT's corrupt image--necessary if he's to win in 2008--will put him at loggerheads with some of the party's most entrenched interests. Such a battle could leave the KMT and its allied parties deeply fractured, and easy pickings for the more united DPP. And even if the party survives its internal fight, analysts say the KMT will have to work to distance itself from China and play to Taiwan-first pride in order to win the presidency. If Ma continues to take China-friendly positions, worries KMT member and National Taiwan University political-science professor Lee Si-kuen, "the KMT is going to lose the chance to rule Taiwan forever." Ironic indeed. The very stance that gave Ma his KMT victory could hand his party a defeat.

--Jonathan Adams

MASS TRANSIT Getting Defensive? In the wake of the bombings of London's subway and bus system, U.S. Homeland Security officials declared that vigilance on public transportation would be increased. But in private, U.S. officials admit there's not much their government or others can do to improve the security of transit systems. During 2004's U.S. political conventions--held near rail hubs--federal and local police agencies stepped up uniformed and undercover patrols of public transit. The Feds also tested out high-tech gizmos meant to spot traces of explosives from a distance and new profiling techniques that are supposed to help officers spot people who are acting suspicious.