In The News

A Loud Message for Bush

Robin Toner November 8, 2006
Voters in the US soundly rejected policies of the Bush administration and the Republican Party by giving Democrats a secure majority in the House of Representatives and possibly even a slim majority in the Senate. All 435 members of the House ran for reelection and 33 of the 100 senators. The race in Virginia, too close to call, will determine which party controls the Senate. The shift in power...

The Withdrawal Syndrome – Part II

Dilip Hiro November 2, 2006
With daily bombings, sniper attacks and abductions, the US struggles to devise a withdrawal plan while maintaining control in Baghdad. This two-part series analyzes how policymakers and citizens in both the US and Iraq question the value of a US presence in the country. With the mid-term election in the US on Tuesday, Republicans could lose control of one chamber in Congress, and President George...

Blood Feud in Bangladesh

November 2, 2006
Violence has rocked Bangladesh as supporters of the country’s two major political parties clash over the upcoming transition period before national elections in January. The ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, has interfered in elections and been negligent about corruption and extremism. The main opposition Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina Wajed, is equally...

Un-free Kashmir

Graham Usher November 1, 2006
For decades, Kashmir has been the target of competing Indian and Pakistani claims. Many Kashmiris, however, prefer full independence from both occupying powers. Ironically, these Kashmiri nationalists have seen their fortunes buoyed since the earthquake that devastated their homeland last year. The Pakistani army, which has long repressed Kashmiri calls for independence, was forced to loosen...

The Withdrawal Syndrome – Part I

Richard N. Haass October 31, 2006
Three years into the endless violence and destruction of the Iraq war, sentiment in both Iraq and the US calls for American withdrawal. This two-part series reviews how the US government is dealing with that sentiment and analyzes the implications of US withdrawal for both nations. The first article – written by Richard Haass, president of the Council of Foreign Relations and former director of...

Kremlin Puts Foreign NGO’s on Notice

C.J. Chivers October 24, 2006
The Russian government stopped operations of foreign non-profit organizations operating in Russia, such as Amnesty International, while reviewing bureaucratic registrations required under a new law. For now, the bureaucratic process, combined with closures and described as temporary, has quieted normally vocal non-government organization spokespeople. The closures, according to the “New York...

The Globalization Index

Paul Laudicina October 19, 2006
The impacts of globalization and roads to integration are almost as varied as the number of countries in the world. “Foreign Policy” and the A.T. Kearney consulting firm have released the sixth annual ranking of 62 countries based on their degree of globalization. The analysis focuses on categories of economic integration, personal contact, technological connectivity and political engagement....