In The News

Terrorist Chemical Threat 'Worse than Suspected'

Mark Huband April 11, 2004
Small groups of chemical weapons experts uncovered in Europe appear to have a wide network of links. Two separate groups, one arrested in a Paris suburb by French counter terrorism officials and the other uncovered by British intelligence, are both reported to have received chemical weapons training in Chechnya, Russia's breakaway republic. The group arrested in France is said to have links...

In Mideast, Anger and Solidarity

Scott Wilson April 10, 2004
As the US started another round of military campaign in Iraq to put down insurgents, Arabs across the region are calling for stronger Muslim solidarity against the Anglo-American-led occupation, some even comparing the American operation in Iraq with Israel's actions against Palestine in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Leading Arab newspapers and TV programs in the region, including some...

Coalition Partners Get Cold Feet

Ewen MacAskill April 10, 2004
As Shiite and Sunni Iraqis banded together to fight American and allied country troops this week, United States military forces found themselves in an increasingly uncertain environment. The political will of US allies is being tested by the deepening hostilities. When South Korean and Japanese military forces came under fire, they retreated to their compounds. But although popular sentiment...

Pentagon Seeks to Use Foreign Airlines

Micheline Maynard April 10, 2004
When the war in Iraq broke out and American troops and equipment were being transported half way across the world to the Middle East, people realized that not all the carriers involved in the transportation were in the US Air Force fleet. Instead, American owned commercial airlines did a large part of the job. Recently, however, the Pentagon announced that it wanted to include foreign airlines...

Rigid Unions Help Paralyze Economy

Heike Göbel April 9, 2004
Last week, workers in several European countries took to the streets demanding socially just reforms and warning against any potential government cutbacks. On the surface, these protests would suggest that Europe's unions have many shared interests. Not so, says this op-ed in Germany's F.A.Z. Weekly. In reality, unions' criticism always focuses on national concerns. German...

How Indonesia Should Respond to U.S. Economic Saber Rattling

Patrick Guntensperger April 9, 2004
Recently, the US has begun pursuing a number of threatening trade initiatives meant to end what it calls the "unfair trading practices" of other nations. Indonesia, one of the 55 nations named, is accused of hurting the US economy with excessive trade barriers. According to Jakarta-based business consultant Patrick Guntensperger, the accusations are groundless. To counteract any...

Uzbeks' Anger at Rulers Boils Over

Seth Mydans April 8, 2004
The recent terrorist attacks in Uzbekistan highlight the country's overall decay and discontent. Ruled since the Soviet Union broke up in 1991 by President Islam Karimov, Uzbekistan appears mired in economic depression, and political terror: 80% of the people live in poverty and most talk as if still living under Soviet era oppression. Furthermore, lack of civil society groups, a free press...