In The News

Come Clean

Najam Sethi September 5, 2003
Officers and non-commissioned officers in the Pakistani Army were jailed recently in response to reports of their suspected collusion with Al Qaeda and other extremist organizations. But allegations run deeper. A recent book claims that Pakistan's late Air Chief Marshal knew about and helped to plan Al Qaeda's attacks on the U.S. And of course, Pakistan did provide support to the...

US Said to Shift Approach in Talks With North Korea

David E. Sanger September 5, 2003
In nuclear disarmament talks last week with North Korea, the US negotiators appeared to adopt a more moderate incentive-based approach advocated by the US Department of State. While any major benefits to North Korea would come only after it fully and verifiably disarms, the mention of reducing sanctions, increasing aid, and even a peace treaty has provided a clearer vision of where talks could...

Who's Winning the War on Terror?

Ahmed Rashid September 5, 2003
Two years after the September 11 attacks on the US, the American-led war on terror is far from over. Writing from the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, veteran journalist and author Ahmed Rashid says that the Taliban is growing in strength, drawing support from Islamic extremists and tribal brethren in Pakistan. US forces and the Afghan soldiers they've trained are under persistent attack from...

India and Israel Ready to Consummate Secret Affair

Edward Luce September 4, 2003
At first glance, India and Israel seem like improbable allies. India has long championed Palestinian rights, and the country’s large Muslim population makes cooperation with Israel politically dangerous. But 11 years after New Delhi established full relations with Tel Aviv, the two countries share increasingly strong ties based on a common desire to defeat violence rooted in Islamic...

Indonesia Questions US Commitment to Fight Terrorism

September 3, 2003
The United States is dragging its feet in the war on terrorism, says Indonesia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda. By failing to grant Indonesian detectives access to Hambali, a terror suspect captured three weeks ago by US and Thai authorities, Washington effectively prevented Indonesia from getting information needed to prosecute another suspect, Hassan claimed. Just yesterday...

Think Again: The United Nations

Madeleine K. Albright September 2, 2003
Is the United Nations really horribly bureaucratic, ineffective, undemocratic, and anti-American? Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright doesn't think so. In this Foreign Policy article, she argues that even after the recent US-led Iraq War, which failed to garner the support of the UN Security Council, the United Nations retains its position as the preeminent forum for...

Chinese Aide Says U.S. Is Obstacle in Korean Talks

Joseph Kahn September 2, 2003
With North Korea balking at holding another round of talks, diplomatic maneuvers are underway to coax it back to the table. A Chinese official who hosted multilateral talks in Beijing last week said that the discussions were stymied by Washington's insistence that Pyongyang dismantle its nuclear program before other issues are addressed. Wang Yi, vice minister of foreign affairs, called on...