For the first time in 10 years, a US military aircraft has landed in Sudan. A Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) C-130 Hercules was met by Sudanese military officers and Colonel Dennis Giddens, the US defense liaison officer in Khartoum. In Washington, Secretary of State Colin met briefly with Sudan's foreign minister Mustafa Osman Ismail to discuss the war on terror (and briefly touch on the SPLA rebellion). 

These were tangible indicators of America's changing attitude towards the Sudanese. While the United States is pleased with Sudan's cooperation, it has indicated that Khartoum needs to do more before the country is removed from the U.S. list of countries sponsoring terrorism. Another indicator of changing winds, such to the chagrin of some Imans, is Khartoum's youths sporting their own versions of USMC 'high-and-tight' haircuts. 

Khartoum has announced it will extend the ceasefire agreement with the rebels, noting that the move towards a final agreement to end two decades of war is still slow. The Sudanese government has also strongly denied any existence for Al Qaeda organization on the Sudanese territories. - Adam Geibel