In The News

Across Spectrum, Politicians Condemn U.S.

William Pratt May 14, 2004
As the sixtieth anniversary of D-Day approaches, German foreign minister Joschka Fischer arrived in Washington with glowing praise for US conduct during World War II. But his account of recent American military actions was strongly critical. As more details of the Iraqi prison abuse scandal emerge, Fischer said the Bush administration must “restore U.S. moral leadership in the world.” Fischer’s...

Muslims: Judge Us Not By Un-Islamic Acts of Few

Parvez Ahmed May 12, 2004
In the following article, two Muslim scholars associated with the Washington based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) argue that the American led war in Iraq is becoming defined by brutality, torture and humiliation by both, American soldiers and Iraqis. According to these scholars, the humiliation and the torture of prisoners at the Iraqi Abu Ghraib prison, and the subsequent...

Berg's death augurs ill for Arab societies

May 12, 2004
In the past few weeks, the world has been stunned by the evidence of US and coalition troops abusing Iraqi prisoners in their custody. Now, the world is shocked once again with a video of the beheading of an American civilian by anti-US Iraqi insurgents. As the editorial in one of the Middle East's most respected papers, the Daily Star of Lebanon puts it, "the barbaric and ultimately...

U.S. Training African Forces to Uproot Terrorists

Craig S. Smith May 11, 2004
In response to growing concerns over terrorist group activity in North Africa, the US is launching a campaign to beef up government forces in several African countries. Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Chad, and Senegal are among the countries that will be receiving American training as well as trucks and equipment to use against terrorist groups roaming the region. The March bombings in Spain that...

A New Coalition To Keep WMD Out of Terrorists' Hands

Michael Richardson May 10, 2004
Current arms control treaties make it easy for countries like North Korea and Iran to import the materials needed to make WMD. Yet despite widespread fear about terrorism, observes correspondent Michael Richardson, no effective international laws exist to prevent the sale or transfer of weapons or related technology to state or non-state actors. To remedy this worrisome loophole, Richardson,...

Poor 'Are Paying for War on Terror'

Mark Tran May 10, 2004
The “war on terror”, fought on many fronts, is increasingly working against poorer people across the globe. A recent report by Christian Aid showed that as world governments shift priorities to counter the possibility of terrorist attack, budgets leave needy individuals empty-handed. The report criticized the United States, the generally recognized leader in the protracted war on terror, for this...

Pragmatic Politics

Peter Sturm May 7, 2004
German Chancellor Helmut Kohl's cozy relations with China's leaders are raising some eyebrows in his native land. An annual visitor to China, Kohl has consistently promoted German business interests during his discussions with Beijing. While this may be good for German investors, Kohl's one-issue focus happily ignores China's human rights abuses, says Peter Sturm. Sturm...