In The News

A Quietly Growing Nuclear Danger in North Korea

Nayan Chanda January 28, 2003
Since the first test of a nuclear weapon at Alamogordo, New Mexico on a summer day in 1945, a terrible device for mass slaughter has continued to gain ground. Although only five permanent members of the UN Security Council are nuclear weapons powers, two others - India and Pakistan - have blasted their way into the nuclear club. Israel, which, like India and Pakistan, has not signed the nuclear...

Text, Chief UN Weapons Inspector Hans Blix's Report on Iraq

January 27, 2003
In compliance with the U.N. resolutions governing the weapons inspections in Iraq since November, Chief Inspector Hans Blix reported today to the Security Council about the progress of his team. Mr. Blix both commended the Iraqi government for granting access to weapons sites and lamented the Iraqis' lack of compliance with the substance of weapons restrictions. Questions still remain as...

North Koreans Still Demand Direct Talks With the U.S.

James Brooke January 26, 2003
Many countries in the region of North Korea have sent diplomats to its capital, Pyongyang, in recent weeks, hoping to quell the dangerous storm currently brewing over that country’s nuclear weapons program. North Korea itself is simultaneously condemning these diplomatic efforts and calling for negotiations and a nonaggression pact with the United States only. Meanwhile, the possibility of armed...

Why We Know Iraq Is Lying

Condoleezza Rice January 23, 2003
In an article in the New York Times, US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice says that Iraq's behavior shows it does not intend to cooperate with the United Nations resolution calling for its disarmament. Contrasting Iraq with other nations that have voluntarily disarmed in the recent past – including South Africa, South Africa, Ukraine and Kazakhstan – Rice says "Iraq is not...

Divided over War

January 22, 2003
It appears that American unilateralism may rear its head again. In its coverage of the conflict with Iraq, the UK's Economist magazine says "As a massive military build-up continues in the Gulf, France and Germany say they cannot support American military action to topple Saddam Hussein. Russia says it believes the decision to attack Iraq has already been made." France is hinting...

Ready for a Fight

January 17, 2003
As the world's attention focuses once again on Iraq, U.N. Chief Weapons Inspector, Hans Blix, expressed concern over a discovery yesterday of chemical warheads that were ready for use. He did not, however, see these as a necessary catalyst for war. So far, European and American officials have agreed. The discovery does put Hussein more on the defensive, sparking him to angrily denounce...

The Northern Front

William Safire January 16, 2003
A quiet military alliance between Turks, Americans and Israelis has been an important force for regional stability in the Middle East over the last decade. However, in part due to the growth of democracy in Turkey, there is now uncertainty as to the loyalty of the Turks to the alliance, especially when it comes to discussions of a Turkish role in a possible US-led coalition against Iraq....