In The News

A Stronger Europe for a Better World

Laurent Fabius March 26, 2003
The war in Iraq will undoubtedly be won, but what about the peace? Former French Prime Minister Laurent Fabius suggests three lessons Europeans should learn to better their own, and the world's position. First, Europe must cooperate to reinvigorate internationalism and multilateralism. Members should work toward this goal through strong encouragement and compliance with international law...

Transatlantic Relationship Can Still Be Rescued

Judy Dempsey March 23, 2003
The Cold War created a strong alliance between the United States and Western European nations – the former provided the funds to rebuild the latter after the devastation of World War II, and thereby created a ‘buffer’ of democratic states between the USSR and the Atlantic. Now, that buffer is no longer needed, and European nations such as France are daring to oppose American policies,...

From Mars to Venus Via the Atlantic

Lionel Barber March 16, 2003
Although a US-led war against Iraq has not yet begun, the damage it has produced is already painfully visible. The NATO alliance suffered some of these wounds. The Financial Times' Lionel Barber argues that many leaders of the alliance are either courting the pacifists, or steadfastly asserting power, thus engendering divisions and magnifying differences. However, amidst talk of building a...

Why the United States is Reacting Quietly to N. Korea’s Provocations

Howard LaFranchi March 5, 2003
The United States does not want to negotiate directly with North Korea; it has stated again and again that its partners in the region – particularly Japan, South Korea, and China – should be involved in any talks. Even in the face of military provocations such as last weekend's tailing of a US surveillance plane by North Korean fighter jets, says Howard LaFranchi. "By appearing to...

Why Unity Is Essential

Zbigniew Brzezinski February 19, 2003
The bedrock of the alliance with NATO that supported the US for the past half century may be in jeopardy. Zbigniew Brzezinski, the former National Security adviser of President Jimmy Carter, says that the sharp differences with NATO and accompanying vitriol have led to grave doubt about American intentions toward the Atlantic alliance. Some Europeans, he says, are beginning to believe that the...

Poll Shows Most Want War Delay

Patrick E. Tyler February 14, 2003
With world powers squabbling over military action in Iraq, a new poll shows that President Bush may still have work to do to convince his own citizens that war is an immediate necessity. While a majority of Americans support military action against Iraq, 59% think that the United Nations should be given more time to carry out weapons inspections. And Americans continue to worry about the threat...

Franco-German Shot at US Punctures Dream of European Power

Shada Islam February 14, 2003
The status of the US as 'the leader of the free world' has come under threat again this week, but the US may not be the only one to get hurt. In an unprecedented challenge to American leadership in NATO, France, Germany, and Belgium vetoed a US proposal to create contingency plans for Turkey. To do so, they claim, would be tantamount to conceding to Washington's desire to wage...