In The News

The Road to Madness

Ibrahim Nafie September 17, 2004
After the fall of communism, did Western politicians and intellectuals chose to paint Islam as the next great threat to civilization? So claims Ibrahim Nafie, chairman of Egypt's Al-Ahram Weekly newspaper, in a new book. Nafie argues that US policymakers, fueled by racist hysteria and a desire for strategic control of Middle Eastern resources, have attempted to "reconfigure economic,...

The War Was Illegal

September 17, 2004
Kofi Annan, the UN secretary-general, is inherently cautious in his choice of words. In the weeks leading to the Iraq war, Annan refrained from outright criticism of the grounds for invasion, and only recently did he warn of the dangerous precedents established by preemptive action. But in a recent BBC interview, Annan bid farewell to the ambiguity, restraint, and equivocation that usually...

Countering Terror with an Amnesty: Why It Makes Sense

Bouchaib Silm September 15, 2004
In a move that contrasts sharply with the US approach to combating terrorism, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Abdullah granted amnesty to several Al-Qaeda members. Providing a historical and psychological analysis of amnesty in Islamic religion and society, this Straits Times article explains why amnesty might ultimately defuse the cycle of violence from Islamic militants worldwide. Consistent with...

Dutch Have a Kinder, Gentler Plan

Frida Ghitis September 14, 2004
Despite scattered threats from terrorist groups, the environment in Amsterdam continues to appear peaceful. The Dutch government's approach to national security, in direct contrast to US policies, underscores protection of civil liberties and adherence to laws. In an effort to prevent a culture based in fear, the Netherlands has resisted alarmist measures common to other Western societies...

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...

Gathering Nuclear Crisis Calls for a Drastic Policy Overhaul

Ramesh Thakur September 10, 2004
As a growing number of countries flirt with nuclear capabilities, it may be time to reconsider the effectiveness of the current arms-control doctrine. Political scientist Ramesh Thakur asserts that the inconsistencies in the application of non-proliferation policy, as developed by the US and the other four Security Council members, may bring about its collapse. The five nuclear powers, argues...

European survivors of 9/11: Torn 2 ways

Katrin Bennhold September 10, 2004
Tomorrow, three years will have passed since Europe stood beside the US in the aftermath of the most traumatic event ever to occur on American soil. Today, after European outrage over the US-led invasion of Iraq and American jabs at the cowardice of "Old Europe," the former allies are drifting ever further apart. Painfully stranded in the middle of this rift are three European survivors...