In The News

Pascal Lamy: What Now Trade Ministers?

Pascal Lamy July 27, 2006
The stalemate in the Doha Round could yet be overcome, suggests Pascal Lamy, director-general of the World Trade Organization. Disputes over subsidies for agriculture and rich nations stalled the trade agreement. According to Lamy, the strongest advocates for slashing subsidies balk at opening markets and vice versa. As a result, poor nations will feel the brunt of unequal trade policies. As a...

US Cuts in Africa Aid Said to Hurt War on Terror

Mark Mazzetti July 27, 2006
The US government has ended military aid for several African countries with governments that refused to sign an “Article 98 agreement” that exempts American soldiers from the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The 2002 “American Servicemembers’ Protection Act” is a keystone of US opposition to the ICC, but the aid cutoffs have angered some military officials who say that...

Power Ploy

Marc Lynch July 27, 2006
Defying public opinion in their homelands, the Saudi, Egyptian and Jordanian governments promptly condemned Hezbollah’s actions against Israel. The governments have reason for changing positions regarding Hezbollah, according to author Marc Lynch, the most important being that their leaders view the Lebanon crisis as a way to “demonstrate their value to the US,” thus stopping calls for...

The Future of Globalization

July 27, 2006
The failure of the Doha Round represents the “defeat of the common good by special interest politics,” leaving both the world’s richest and poorest nations at a disadvantage. World Trade Organization members react with the same apathy that led to the breakdown. In the context of robust global economic growth and temptation toward one-on-one trade agreements, apathy led to the breakdown and...

Boosting Extremists With Bombs

Dilip Hiro July 25, 2006
Israel’s air strikes on Southern Lebanon boost support for Hezbollah in the Arab world, as many lose faith in already struggling Arab democracies. Outlining the history of Hezbollah in a region prone to setbacks and violence, Middle East analyst and author Dilip Hiro predicts that the present fighting paves the way for more Arab rulers to resort to repressive measures in order to control dissent...

Stepping Up to the UN Plate

Takashi Oda July 24, 2006
Some of North Korea’s missile tests in early July may have failed, but Japan recognizes that the rogue nation has reliable Rodong ballistic missiles that could enable it to wage attacks on its closest neighbors. A military confrontation solely between Japan and North Korea would probably favor the latter, so Japan relies largely on diplomatic pressure and the use of sanctions to discourage North...

Why Israel’s Reaction Is Right

Matthias Kuntzel July 24, 2006
Despite Germany and the rest of Europe siding against Israel and hoping for immediate peace, author Matthias Kuntzel argues that a ceasefire is, in fact, a dangerous strategy. Israel – attacked from all directions by Islamic extremists – is fighting a just war and wants peace, he notes. Kuntzel suggests Israel lacks alternatives and that the heavy attacks could free Lebanon of Hezbollah influence...