In The News

UN Efforts in Iraq No Walk in the Park

Benny Widyono August 5, 2004
Symbolically, the rift between the US and the UN has been healed. An interim Iraqi government has assumed sovereignty, and a newly-appointed Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General has been dispatched to Iraq. Yet, according to former UN official and Cambodia expert Benny Widyono, the challenge confronting UN peacekeepers remains daunting and dangerous. Iraq is still rife with...

Russian Missile Technology Allows N. Korea to Threaten U.S.

August 4, 2004
A recent article published by Jane’s Defence Weekly claims that North Korea is deploying new land- and sea-based ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads and striking the United States. The technology for both systems reportedly comes from 12 former Soviet submarines that were sold to North Korea in the 1990’s, a claim which Russian defense officials adamantly deny. Regardless of...

India’s Kinder and Gentler Globalization

Pratap Bhanu Mehta August 3, 2004
Upon assuming office in May, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s first official action was to visit drought-stricken farmers in an impoverished state of India. This visit was to signal the new administration’s desire to focus on farming and poverty alleviation – without detracting from efforts to attract foreign investment. As Pratap Bhanu Mehta, President designate of the Center for Policy...

Islamic Troop Plan Prompts Skepticism

Robin Wright August 1, 2004
Last week, the Saudi government outlined its proposal for deployment of Muslim soldiers in Iraq. While US Secretary of State Colin Powell said that he supported “the concept” of a Muslim troop presence, both he and the leadership of Iraq’s interim governing council have several reservations about specifics. Whereas the Saudi proposal advocates troops forming a separate UN-mandated umbrella, the...

Real Trade Negotiations Still Lie Ahead

Guy de Jonquières August 1, 2004
The Doha round of trade negotiations started in November 2001 and was scheduled to be wrapping up later this year, but a walkout of representatives from developing nations at the WTO’s Cancun meeting last September delayed the process. Many experts feared that another setback would severely damage prospects of future negotiations, but this weekend a deal was reached that marks the end of talks...

NK Defectors in China Remain Concern

Seo Hyun-jin July 30, 2004
Hundreds of thousands of North Koreans are seeking asylum in neighboring countries. Those that escape to the South are welcomed by the South Korean government, which has been embracing all escapees. Those that flee to China are not so lucky, however, and human rights activists are pressuring South Korea to step in. Between 50,000 and 300,000 North Koreans seek refuge in China every year, but...

Arab Opinions

Khaled Dawoud July 30, 2004
Recent opinion polls of six Arab countries show that rising anti-American attitudes in the Arab world are due mainly to American foreign policy, as opposed to American civilization or values. According to the surveys, none of the six Arab countries returned approval ratings of the US above 20%, a statistic due in large part to the fact that America’s Iraq policy now equals its Israel-Palestine...