In The News

Preventing a War over Taiwan

Kenneth Lieberthal February 24, 2005
An escalation of the ongoing standoff between Taiwan and China could draw the already over-committed United States military into an unpleasant – and unnecessary – armed conflict. As political scientist Kenneth Lieberthal writes, political missteps on both sides have inflamed already heated cross-Strait tensions. China's warnings of military action have been seen as empty threats....

Bush to Europe: Let's Move On

Shada Islam February 23, 2005
Speaking of transatlantic relations during his recent European tour, President Bush emphatically claimed that "no temporary debate, no passing disagreement of governments, no power on earth will ever divide us." As journalist Shada Islam explains, there is some basis for the President's optimism. The United States and Europe have agreed to disagree on a number of issues, favoring...

The Pull of the West

Stefan Wagstyl February 22, 2005
When the governments of several Eastern European countries succeeded in joining the EU last year, the voice of protest was loud among the citizenry. Yet recently, opinion polls show a significant growth in approval rates for EU membership, reflecting the growing visibility of economic and political membership benefit. On the economic end, new member countries in Eastern Europe have seen...

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...

'Fox, Lula and Leadership for the Americas

Fred Rosen February 21, 2005
Despite encouraging signs of growth in Latin American countries, the United States continues to dominate the Western hemisphere, both politically and economically. As a result, countries like Mexico and Brazil have been forced to implement strategies of resistance, accommodation, and/or self-protection. Capitalizing on its close US proximity, Mexico's President Fox has positioned himself...

Japan to Join U.S. Policy on Taiwan

Anthony Faiola February 18, 2005
American officials have long paid close attention to Chinese threats to use military force against Taiwan should the island move towards independence. Japan, on the other hand, has traditionally avoided taking a stance on the issue, prioritizing the maintenance of close economic ties over confrontation. However, with China rapidly modernizing its military and drawing business away from Japan,...

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...