In The News

The Spider's Web

Georg Mascolo September 4, 2006
The secretary general of the Arab League once warned that a war in Iraq would open "the door to hell." As hundreds of civilians die in the Middle East each week, the US struggles to control Iraq, Europe waits on the sidelines and Israel remains anxious about its long-term survival. As the world grows weary with conflict, Iran patiently waits. Even without nuclear bombs in hand, Iran,...

Chinese Take a Turn at Turning a Sub-Saharan Profit

Lydia Polgreen September 1, 2006
The country with the highest growth rate in the world targets Africa for development, as evidenced by its strong presence in nations both rich in oil and not. Trade between Africa and China nearly quadrupled since 2001. Some economists suggest that China offers the continent practical benefits, not patronizing lectures on religion, politics or economic systems. For example, in Senegal, China...

Excess Baggage

Claudia Rosett September 1, 2006
Iran stubbornly refuses to give up its nuclear-weapons research. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has calculated that the United Nations and its members are so polarized that they cannot muster the will to enforce sanctions or take military steps against a nation so intent on nuclear development, writes journalist Claudia Rosett. Rich with oil and gas reserves, Iran has plenty of cash to convince...

Will Oil Impose US-Iranian Reconciliation?

Hani Asfour September 1, 2006
After the US invasion of Iraq and then the invasion of Lebanon, speculation abounded about possible war between the West and Iran. Diplomacy experts in Europe and the US urge the Bush administration to open negotiations with Iran about ending the latter’s nuclear research and disarming Hezbollah in Lebanon – as well as ensure world energy supplies. Author Hani Asfour argues that the US has ample...

Fruit of the Boom Threatens to Push China's Economy Out of Control

Jonathan Watts August 31, 2006
China has had spectacular growth, so spectacular that consumers cannot keep up. Luxury apartments in Shanghai remain vacant. Overbuilding and overvaluation, combined with increased debt, have contributed to an overheated economy. Not accountable to voters, provincial governments compete to create building booms and demonstrate accomplishments. Supply exceeds demand for about 70 percent of China’s...

Iran’s Lebanon Card

George Perkovich August 24, 2006
The growing success of Islamic extremists throughout the Middle East has emboldened Iran. The country flouts demands from the international community and ignores UN Security Council resolutions. As problems mount in the Middle East, Iran can negotiate on several fronts – for example, the country could promise not to interfere in Lebanon or Afghanistan, if it can proceed with nuclear enrichment....

Water, Water Everywhere?

August 22, 2006
One third of the world’s population is already short of water, according to a UN report to be released in November 2006. A main culprit behind the increasing scarcity is agriculture – it requires about 3000 liters of water to grow enough food for a person to eat one day. With an increasing global population, agriculture’s demand for water will double by 2050. World water supplies could be...