In The News

Islamic Troop Plan Prompts Skepticism

Robin Wright August 1, 2004
Last week, the Saudi government outlined its proposal for deployment of Muslim soldiers in Iraq. While US Secretary of State Colin Powell said that he supported “the concept” of a Muslim troop presence, both he and the leadership of Iraq’s interim governing council have several reservations about specifics. Whereas the Saudi proposal advocates troops forming a separate UN-mandated umbrella, the...

NK Defectors in China Remain Concern

Seo Hyun-jin July 30, 2004
Hundreds of thousands of North Koreans are seeking asylum in neighboring countries. Those that escape to the South are welcomed by the South Korean government, which has been embracing all escapees. Those that flee to China are not so lucky, however, and human rights activists are pressuring South Korea to step in. Between 50,000 and 300,000 North Koreans seek refuge in China every year, but...

Arab Opinions

Khaled Dawoud July 30, 2004
Recent opinion polls of six Arab countries show that rising anti-American attitudes in the Arab world are due mainly to American foreign policy, as opposed to American civilization or values. According to the surveys, none of the six Arab countries returned approval ratings of the US above 20%, a statistic due in large part to the fact that America’s Iraq policy now equals its Israel-Palestine...

President Praises the EU's Example as Nation's Future

Chang Yun-ping July 29, 2004
While talking with French Parliamentarian Alain Madelin, Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian reiterated his belief that the EU could serve as model for relations between Taiwan and China. Chen attributed the appeal of Europe’s integration to its “trade-based interactions” and “principles of voluntary participation, equality and peace.” Madelin, however, pointed out that application of the...

Can America Regain Its Soft Power After Abu Ghraib?

Joseph S. Nye, Jr. July 29, 2004
One of the heaviest costs of the Iraq War has been the loss of America’s reputation worldwide, writes Harvard professor Joseph S. Nye, Jr. The image of America as an arrogant, global bully is increasingly commonplace around the world. The abuses at Abu Ghraib prison have exacerbated this negative perception of the US, and contributed to the decline of America’s 'soft power'. For...

Seoul, Israel Differ on Korean Pilgrims

Choi Soung-ah July 28, 2004
It was only one month ago that South Korean citizen Kim Sun-il was beheaded in Iraq due to what his captors claimed to be participation by him and his company in Christian activities. So it may come as no surprise that South Korea’s government is concerned about the prospect of 3,000 Korean college students traveling to Israel. The students are traveling to participate in the "Jerusalem...

Knock-on Effects will be Global if Iraq Carries on Downhill

Daljit Singh July 28, 2004
According to this op-ed by Daljit Singh, a senior research fellow at the Institute of South-east Asian Studies, defeat, or perception of defeat, of America in Iraq could have destabilizing consequences for not just the Middle East, but all of Asia as well. If the United States, the global hegemon, is unable to restore peace to this one Middle Eastern country, its credibility as a superpower will...