In The News

Islamic Groups Cautious over Bombing Blame

Salim Osman September 13, 2004
A recent suicide attack in Indonesia has once again fueled controversy over the connection between religious fundamentalism and terrorism. Many Indonesian Islamic groups condemned the attack, which was most likely the work of the militant group, Jemaah Islamiah. Few of the religious critics, however, actually took the step of publicly censuring the suspected fundamentalist group. The...

Massacre Draws Self-Criticism in Muslim Press

John Kifner September 9, 2004
The recent rash of violence, most notably a Russian school siege, has made terrorist activities a consistent presence in world headlines. In reaction to the latest tragedy, several Arab media members have spoken out ardently against violent Muslim fundamentalism. Remarking that Muslim groups orchestrated the majority of recent attacks, commentators openly condemned terrorist activities as...

Saudi Surprise

Mohamed El-Sayed Said August 6, 2004
The Saudi government is attempting to rescue U.S. President George W Bush from his ill-fated venture in Iraq by declaring an initiative to send multinational Muslim troops to the war torn country. Criticism of President Bush’s handling of the Iraq War is rising, jeopardizing his chances for reelection this coming November. Saudi Arabia’s proposition could provide Bush with a convenient exit...

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...

Tourism Make-Over for Pariah State

Marasri Boonroj August 4, 2004
Thai and Burmese travel officials are working together to promote Burma as a travel destination, despite its being considered a pariah state due to Rangoon’s military government and human rights abuses. Before the Burmese tourist industry can thrive, however, tourism experts say the country will have to develop its infrastructure, eliminate its two-tier exchange rate, and develop a two-part...

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...

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...