In The News

Eye of the Storm

Dina Ezzat February 25, 2005
In the wake of the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, Syria has landed in hot soup. Though accusations of complicity in Hariri's killing remain unsubstantiated, Syria faces mounting pressure over its occupation of Lebanon. Not only does Washington want to erase Syrian influence in Lebanon, but US officials also hope to coerce Syria into tightening its border with...

Bratislava Summit: Buddies in Accord

Boris Yunanov February 25, 2005
There were no major surprises when US President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin met on February 24. After a candid conversation, both leaders emerged wearing smiles. And, according to The Moscow News, the positive relationship between the two leaders stems from more than global strategic considerations, but from a close personal friendship which has colored the whole US-...

Stand Up for People Power

Fareed Zakaria February 21, 2005
Former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s killing last week, possibly the result of his anti-Syrian remarks made at a summit months earlier, has now sparked a new Lebanese nationalism and international outrage that could seriously threaten the Syrian state. Among the many repercussions following Hariri’s death, an unprecedented partnership between the US and France has appeared, as both...

With Neighbors Like These

V. Sudarshan February 18, 2005
India's refusal to participate in the SARC summit earlier this month was a direct reaction to trouble in three of its neighboring countries: Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan. The crisis in Kathmandu has been particularly difficult for India, one of Nepal's biggest trading partners. Many New Delhi diplomats believe that India's best course is to successfully convince King Gyanendra of...

The Beirut Blast Shakes the Middle East

Rami G. Khouri February 18, 2005
Though American and Israeli occupations routinely hog headlines around the world, another occupation in the Middle East has won international attention this week. The assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri on Monday raised fresh questions about the continued Syrian military presence in Lebanon. Syrian troops were initially stationed in Lebanon to preserve its fragile unity...

The Kyoto No-Show Can Still Go Green

James Gustave Speth February 16, 2005
The Kyoto Protocol to combat global climate change goes into effect today, February 16. This treaty, signed on December 11, 1997, is an international effort to protect the earth's climate and slow down global warming. Today, 141 countries have ratified the agreement, and 34 economically advanced countries have accepted the Protocol's targets on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions....

An Empire's Fraying Edge

February 15, 2005
The strife in Chechnya has shown no signs of abating. Countless terrorist acts, mostly perpetrated by Islamic radicals, have made the Russian republic one of the most insecure regions in Europe. In response, Russia has cracked down, dispatching security services to track down and disarm the militants. Part of the trouble, however, is that many Chechnyans have a historical perception of Moscow as...