and tom malinowski, washington director of human rights watch, and a former state department and nationality council staffer in the clinton administration. welcome to you both. priscilla clapp, let me begin with you, why this turn around on the part of the united states. i mean the u.s. has had myanmar in the deep freeze now for years and years. >> it's an attempt to respond to some very, very positive developments in myanmar that we have been calling for for decades. they're finally moving it in the direction that we have been asking for, reconciliation, particularly bringing the nld and-- . >> warner: the opposition party. >> the opposition party into the political fold. they have changed their party registration laws to make it possible now to remove the objections that the nld had to the party registration act. they can now participate in the elections that are coming up next month. they will be part of the political process. and this is a major step in the direction of reconciliation on the side of the opposition. >> warner: is that the way you see it, that this is to recognize the r