In The News

Fallout from the War on Terror – Part I

Mark Sidel June 14, 2005
Four years after the 9/11 attacks, protecting America from an invisible threat continues to shape domestic and foreign policy. The complex effects of the war on terror extend far beyond security – and the unintended results are not all positive. In this two-part series, YaleGlobal explores how US anti-terrorism policy is changing America's position in the world. In part one, Mark Sidel...

Help the Refugees Who Reach China

Joel R. Charny June 14, 2005
Thousands of North Koreans have succeeded in reaching China in hope of refuge. However, instead of receiving the humanitarian assistance that China is internationally bound to provide for those claiming refugee status, these North Koreans are labeled as illegal immigrants and deported. Once back in their home country, they face harsh conditions, including imprisonment, torture, and sometimes...

Wanted: A Roadmap for North Korea

Michael O'Hanlon June 9, 2005
With North Korea hinting at the possibility of a return to six-party talks amidst speculation about its testing a nuclear device, the long-simmering issue of non-proliferation is back in the limelight. On June 10, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun arrives in Washington to discuss a possible solution to the crisis. While Pyongyang prefers bilateral talks, the US has insisted on the six-party...

Slow-Motion Reunification

John Feffer June 9, 2005
For a half-century, it has been impossible to cross the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. But not today: Daily buses now transport South Korean workers across the border to work in a joint industrial complex. The project is part of a larger South Korean effort to promote engagement with North Korea and to stabilize the region. While President Bush hopes that North Korea will...

Bush Touts Trade, but US Bid to Empower OAS Stalls

Pablo Bachelet June 7, 2005
Concerned over political turmoil and threats to free trade emerging from many Latin American states, President Bush emphasized on Monday that democracy and trade liberalization will put troubled OAS member states on the path to greater prosperity. But the nature of recent difficulties in countries like Bolivia and Venezuela underscore the many problems with the US approach. Both countries and...

Prison Scandal Touches Raw Nerve of a Key US Ally

Paula R. Newberg June 7, 2005
Recent allegations of US forces' mishandling of the Quran have further inflamed Muslims worldwide. Pakistani reaction in this regard is of particular concern – in view of the country's nuclear arsenal and centrality to the US war on terror. As Paula R. Newberg explains, while the country remains a reluctant but cooperative US ally, the scandal renders the vacuum at the heart of...

Diplomats Put on Backlash Alert

Cynthia Banham June 2, 2005
Contrary to initial reports, the "biological agent" scare at Canberra's Indonesian embassy may have been a false alarm. The white powder may not be as dangerous as previously thought, and many accuse Australian Prime Minister John Howard of over-reacting. Regardless of the substance's potency, overseas Australian diplomats remain on guard against a potential retaliation. A...