"As the dust settles on one of the Myanmar military?s broadest counterinsurgency campaigns in decades, it is clear that its war in the country?s rugged north against the rebel Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has escalated sharply as military casualties mount and thousands more internally displaced persons (IDPs) are driven from their homes. The onset of the rains this month will reduce the tempo of the conflict as cloud cover impedes air strikes and troop and equipment movement along minor roads becomes more difficult. However, the manner in which the war is now changing as the KIA regroups and reassesses its shrinking strategic options guarantees all but guarantees sustained bitter fighting in the months ahead..."