[D-Roc]

I think it's a clue, or at least i hope it's a clue with actual meaning rather than them merely thinking it's a cool idea to remind us of where the show began.

I think that the game of Risk was interesting and serves as a good metaphor for both the situation in this episode and what happened to alex.

If Alex is Australia, then she is the key to the whole game..and indeed, Alex gets killed, and the whole 'game' has changed:

"He changed the rules"

Alex' execution could well be the most important event in Lost to date