In The News

Some of Hussein’s Arab Foes Admire His Fight

Neil MacFarquhar March 26, 2003
Saddam Hussein is not well liked in the Arab world. But the US-led war on Iraq is leading to more anti-American sentiment across the Middle East and galvanizing support for Iraqi resistance to US forces. Even the Arab intelligentsia, which has long hoped for the spread of democratic institutions in Middle Eastern countries, is applauding Saddam’s will to fight. "If Saddam's regime is...

Halliburton Charges Into Iraq

Jeff Fischer March 25, 2003
American soldiers rushing into Iraq on military missions are only a short distance ahead of American oil and construction companies. US Vice President Dick Cheney's former employer, Halliburton, has been granted a contract from the US Army to work on the reconstruction of post-war Iraq. Other US companies are also expected to get lucrative deals once the US military secures Iraq. –...

Water Meet Highlights Isolation

Chiu Yu-Tzu March 25, 2003
24,000 people from almost all the world's countries met last week in Japan for the 2003 World Water Forum. The over 100 new commitments signed by attendees addressed broad issues of water management, including education and access to information, as well as cultural diversity and traditional knowledge. Local activists in Taiwan, however, criticized their government's water regulation...

With New Technology, US Tries Out New Way to Make War

Joseph Fitchett March 24, 2003
Improvements in the technology used in military conflicts is changing the nature of military strategy. During the first Gulf War, the U.S. launched sequential major attacks across expansive fronts and engaged in direct combat to dismantle Iraqi defenses. Now, the strategy has shifted to one of 'simultaneous attacks' – coalition forces are using precision-weaponry to destroy...

Malaysian PM Condemns Iraq War

March 24, 2003
Prime Minister Mahathir criticized the Bush administration for ignoring international law and undermining world order. In parliament, he said "military action in Iraq would lead to a system of dictatorship through puppet governments" and to "the spread of international terrorism." Meanwhile, anti-war protests continue through out much of South-East Asia. –YaleGlobal

Shock and Awe and a Clash of Cultures

Harlan Ullman March 23, 2003
Harlan Ullman, co-author of "Shock and Awe: Achieving Rapid Dominance", explains here that the philosophy behind the 'shock and awe' doctrine currently being employed by the US in Iraq is "to win decisively, rapidly and inexpensively in terms of human life and the ravages of war." "The method," he says, "is the same and akin to karate: the application...

Transatlantic Relationship Can Still Be Rescued

Judy Dempsey March 23, 2003
The Cold War created a strong alliance between the United States and Western European nations – the former provided the funds to rebuild the latter after the devastation of World War II, and thereby created a ‘buffer’ of democratic states between the USSR and the Atlantic. Now, that buffer is no longer needed, and European nations such as France are daring to oppose American policies,...