In The News

Kenyan Farmers’ Fate Caught Up in US Aid Rules

Celia W. Dugger August 2, 2007
US legislators debate a massive farm bill – estimated at more than $260 billion – which will fund loans, subsidies, conservation and many other agriculture activities over the next five years. The Bush administration has proposed allowing the purchase of up to $300 million worth of food in poor countries to quicken response times during times of emergency. The US often provides food aid to Africa...

Does the UN Still Matter?

Joseph S. Nye July 27, 2007
The United Nations, with 192 member nations, has global authority to take action on problems ranging from climate change and famine to security matters. However, when corruption or problems emerge, such as former Iraq leader Saddam Hussein removing funds from the UN oil-for-food program, designed to protect ordinary Iraqis against international economic sanctions, many nations quickly blame the...

North Africa Reluctant to Host US Command

Craig Whitlock June 29, 2007
A US delegation recently traveled to Africa in the hopes of finding a country willing to host AFRICOM, but even strong American allies in the region are unwilling make a commitment. African responsibilities and operations are now divided between US military commands based in Europe and Florida – and the Bush administration decided that Africa warrants its own command base. The US delegation...

Pakistan: Nuclear Power with Feet of Clay?

Husain Haqqani May 22, 2007
A nuclear-armed Pakistan may have the military capability worthy of an emerging global power, but its external power is belied by an increasingly precarious domestic situation. While the spread of anti-American and pro-Islamist sentiments in the past six years has empowered armed extremists and other non-state actors across the country, the educated middle class is increasingly disenchanted with...

Iraq’s Refugee Crisis

Anna Husarska May 7, 2007
The US and its coalition partners invaded Iraq, but have failed to provide for the 2 million Iraqis displaced since the start of the war. Nearly 15 percent of Iraq’s 26.8 million people have been displaced, with most moving to other parts of their war-torn nation or neighboring Jordan and Syria, and smaller numbers headed to Turkey, Lebanon and Egypt. Poor nations throughout the Middle East...

How Biofuels Could Starve the Poor

C. Ford Runge April 24, 2007
With rising oil prices and growing demand for ethanol as an alternative fuel, US corn producers anticipate a huge boost in profitability. Any spike in corn prices caused by increasing ethanol consumption, however, could devastate the developing world. Billions of impoverished people depend on corn and other staples for their caloric intake, but higher corn prices would decrease affordability of...

India Cannot Afford Rural Failure

Mira Kamdar April 20, 2007
Buoyant optimism about India’s economic prospects overlooks a critical weakness in the country’s well being. Long accustomed to price supports, India’s farmers confront open markets, government programs that favor large farms, overwhelming debt and changing weather patterns that reduce arable land and water supplies. The story of small farmers, struggling to repay predatory lenders and losing...