In The News

The US Confronts Pakistan’s Street Power

Dilip Hiro April 27, 2012
Lahore-based Hafiz Muhammad Saeed is founder of Laskar-e-Taiba, LeT, and alleged to be the mastermind behind the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. Yet he’s also come to epitomize Pakistani street power, taking advantage of widespread seething discontent. Author Dilip Hiro details the history of Pakistan that encourages instability. Large numbers of Pakistanis are alert for any hint of disrespect...

Can Afghanistan and Pakistan Prop Each Other Up?

Paula Newberg March 30, 2012
NATO is winding down its military operations in Afghanistan, leaving the nation only slightly more stable than when troops arrived in 2001. Security priorities drove aid, and Afghanistan and its neighbor Pakistan are now left in desperate need of good governance and nation-building. “Billions have been spent, but only a trickle was invested in Afghanistan's economic future,” explains Paula...

Global Power Shift – Part II

Richard Weitz March 23, 2012
With the US shifting its security focus toward Asia, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has been forced to review its strategic posture. This two-part YaleGlobal series examines the impact of the US pivot toward Asia on both the US and NATO against the backdrop of their shrinking budgets and the need to reduce debt. While the US is concerned about China’s rising power, along with NATO, it...

US-Pakistani Relations in Crisis – Part I

Richard Weitz January 3, 2012
For a decade, NATO forces have struggled to stabilize Afghanistan and defeat terrorist groups that were the source of the 9/11 attacks in New York and Washington. The killing of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan and growing tension between Washington and Islamabad further complicate the situation in Afghanistan. This YaleGlobal series analyzes the impact of the Afghan-Pakistani developments. Russian...

After the Arab Spring – Part III

Dilip Hiro September 26, 2011
The Arab Spring has ushered in new attitudes throughout the Middle East and North Africa, as described by this YaleGlobal series. In country after country, citizens have engaged in peaceful demonstrations, yearning for representative government that balances Islam with democracy and rejecting dictatorships that put foreign interests over that of citizens. In searching for a model of...

The US Public Wants Disengagement

Bruce Stokes September 14, 2011
The United States has periodically withdrawn into its isolationist shell, particularly after wars. While much of the world looks to the United States to exercise strong leadership, otherwise polarized opinion within the US often finds common ground on at least one issue: expecting leaders to focus less attention on problems overseas. Recent surveys show the US could be heading towards such an...

Fall of Gaddafi: Policy Challenge for China and Russia

James M. Dorsey September 7, 2011
As rebels organize to govern Libya, global powers pay their respects to new rulers of a nation ranking ninth in the world with oil reserves. NATO supported overthrowing the Gaddafi regime, while Russia, China, India, Brazil and South Africa abstained from voting on Resolution 1973, approved in March, authorizing UN member states to protect Libya’s civilians. Now abstainers are scrambling to win...