In The News

Saudi Women Get the Vote

Brian Whitaker March 10, 2004
For the first time, municipal elections are set to take place in Saudi Arabia. The elections alone stand as an important sign of Saudi Arabia's increasing democratization, but even more surprisingly, women will be able vote in these elections. Women's activities are highly restricted in the Saudi kingdom, but in recent years many have managed to gain a foothold in business affairs –...

Bush Administration Should Stop Turning Refugees Away

Cheryl Little March 9, 2004
With Haiti's political system in turmoil after President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's departure, the US is experiencing a rise in Haitian refugees attempting to leave their home. Despite the legitimate fears of violence many of these people face, say two immigrant advocates, the US has turned a cold shoulder – and turned Haitians back from US shores. For over two years now, the Bush...

Outlook: Outsourcing America's Future

Jodie Allen March 8, 2004
Most economists - including American ones - argue that in the long run, outsourcing makes sense both for business and society. In this online discussion, Jodie Allen, Managing Editor of US News & World Report, challenges this long held economic assumption. While recognizing some of the positive aspects of outsourcing (e.g., cheaper consumer goods), she points to a recent US Labor Department...

American Troops Are Killing and Abusing Afghans, Rights Body Says

Brian Whitaker March 8, 2004
After routing out the oppressive Taliban regime from Afghanistan in 2001, America took on the burden of enforcing security within the war-torn country. Now, according to a report released today by Human Rights Watch (HRW), the US is failing to live up to its own standards of democracy and respect for human rights. The use of excessive force and paramilitary tactics for policing procedures are...

Fischer Sees Turkey's Membership in EU as Part of War on Terror

Sam Hapgood March 5, 2004
As the EU gets ready to welcome 10 new members on May 1, Germany's foreign minister, Joschka Fischer, is pushing for Turkey to join the group sooner rather than later. "We have a new task that will shape this century: We have to give globalization political contours," he said. Bringing Turkey into the group, he says, will help deter Muslim terrorists. The German Finance Ministry...

Bush Signals Patience on North Korea is Waning

Glenn Kessler March 4, 2004
Proof of "complete, verifiable, and irreversible dismantlement" (CVID) of North Korea's nuclear weapons programs is what President Bush and his team of aides wanted for last week's six-nation talks on the North Korean nuclear crisis. But given North Korea's intransigence on the subject, that wish failed to come true as the talks finished, and it may not be realized for...

Moments Before the Union, "Old" Europe Gets Cold Feet

Shada Islam March 3, 2004
As Europe's leaders prepare for their expansion party, they fear immigrant gate-crashers. Shada Islam notes that widespread fears of immigrants flooding Western Europe in search of employment, welfare, and health benefits has forced many governments to enact restrictions to stem this supposed flood. But the facts prove that these fears are unfounded. Past history shows immigration slows once...