In The News

The Piracy Threat to Japan

March 17, 2005
In this age of global trade, the logical arena for international anti-piracy efforts would be intellectual property. Yet after a recent incident of maritime piracy in the Strait of Malacca, the world may be forced to recognize that the sea buccaneers of yore are not a thing of the past. Though the tsunami significantly reduced piracy in local sea lanes, the Malacca Strait remains one of the world...

The Atlantic Divide over Fighting Terrorism

Jonathan Schell March 16, 2005
Spain recently commemorated the first anniversary of the March 11 terrorist train bombings. With an international conference on terrorism and five minutes of nation-wide silence, Spain's conduct one year after the tragedy is markedly different from the US declaration of war in response to 9/11, writes Jonathan Schell. As the world grapples with the terrorist challenge, Spain demonstrates an...

China's Latin Influence Is Growing, General Says

Pablo Bachelet March 10, 2005
Recent US sanctions against several Latin American and Caribbean countries may come back to haunt it. US Army General Bantz Craddock testified before a Congressional panel that cuts in military aid may have alienated several countries – and that China has stepped in to fill the void. The Asian giant aggressively pursued economic ties with several Latin American countries, in order to support...

US Says It Has Withdrawn from World Judicial Body

Adam Liptak March 10, 2005
The US administration has angered many countries in its lack of deference to international institutions, particularly the United Nations. Most recently, a US State Department announcement essentially revoked International Court of Justice jurisdiction to review disputes within US courts. Washington's withdrawal from this optional protocol, part of the Vienna Convention on Consular...

North Ugandan Conflict, Forgotten But Still Deadly

Katherine Southwick March 9, 2005
From Sudan to Congo to Côte d'Ivoire to Rwanda, the African continent seems plagued with humanitarian crises. Some of these situations have received international attention – though often times, too late. Others have been virtually ignored. Such is the case with Northern Uganda, home to one of Africa's longest and most brutal civil wars. As Katherine Southwick reports, the anti-...

A Drug-Free Afghanistan Not So Easy

Paula R. Newberg March 7, 2005
The recent announcement of surging Afghan poppy production, while no surprise, is indicative of a dangerous trend – one that may ultimately undo the recovery of the fragile Asian state: Illegal poppy production now, more than ever, forms the basis of Afghanistan's economy. The fledgling state's existence as a cornerstone of both the war on terror and international anti-narcotics...

An End to Killing Kids

March 2, 2005
This week, the US Supreme Court abolished the execution of juveniles, leaving only a handful of nations still using capital punishment for minors. While convicted adults still face the death penalty, the popularity of capital punishment may be waning in America. According to The Economist, recent developments indicate that the United States no longer wishes to be out of step with its allies and...