In The News

US Wary of What's Next for Egypt

Ben Smith, Laura Rozen January 31, 2011
Observing the mounting opposition to Egypt’s government, under Hosni Mubarak since 1981, allies including the US and Israel ponder what democratic changes might mean for them. Fair elections could deliver a moderate democratic system or an Islamist one, speculates a team of writers from Politico. US President Barack Obama and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have gradually relayed the...

Chinese Follow Same Old Script (And They Get the Punch Line)

Steven Pearlstein January 20, 2011
The US repeatedly promises tough talk on a long list of concerns with China while announcing new joint ventures between US and Chinese firms – partnerships that often deliver more jobs to China than the US. A US visit by China’s President Hu Jintao focuses attention on the US trade deficit and accusations that China engages in currency manipulation, theft of intellectual property and industry...

The WikiLeaks Ravage – Part II

Johan Lagerkvist December 8, 2010
WikiLeaks taunt the US government with a daily release of classified diplomatic cables. The US has reacted with fury – far more intense than during previous releases of military documents – and with unprecedented censorship that heightens curiosity and counters democratic values. US leaders simultaneously apologize to foreign counterparts whose confidentiality was compromised and pressure them...

Iraq War Logs: UN Calls on Obama to Investigate Human Rights Abuses

David Batty, Jamie Doward October 25, 2010
After the online release of nearly 400,000 documents from the Iraq War, the UN's chief investigator on torture has called for an investigation. Notably the documents reveal a higher number of civilian deaths than admitted publicly by the US military; chaos with military reliance on security contractors; and increasing Iranian influence in Iraq. Individual soldiers reported incidents of abuse...

Sarkozy Hits Back at Reding in Roma Row

Peggy Hollinger, Nikki Tait, Stanley Pignal September 22, 2010
France has drawn the ire of other European nations for its aggressive policies on expulsion of illegal immigrants. The EU, of course, has never been in lock-step on member policies. Yet, debate over mistreatment of the Roma minority is distinguished by swift criticism from central EU authorities, including EU Commissioner Viviane Reding of Luxembourg who compared France's handling of the...

Petraeus Condemns US Church's Plan to Burn Korans

Julian E. Barnes, Matthew Rosenberg September 7, 2010
If one needed an example of the world’s interconnectedness and the internet’s ability to empower individuals, the story of a tiny church in Florida will do. The church’s plans to burn Korans on the anniversary of the September 11th attacks captured the world’s attention and, most surprisingly, that of the US commander of international forces in Afghanistan. US military leaders typically refrain...

The Burden of Thirst

Tina Rosenberg August 25, 2010
Information flows to every corner of the world much like movements of the water cycle, connecting people more than ever before. But nothing separates us more than the inequality that exists in access to water. Nearly 900 million people lack access to clean water, and more than 3.3 million – most children under age five – die each year as a result. In many developing countries, the brunt of the...