In The News

Is the Turmoil Good or Bad for Israel?

March 23, 2005
Israel's relations with its Middle-Eastern neighbors are constantly shifting and heavily determined by the Palestinian situation. The recent ceasefire and planned Israeli withdrawal from Gaza have led to a similar thaw with other countries in the region. Egypt has seized the chance to assist Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and intends to strengthen economic ties with Israel. And while...

Off to Algeria

Dina Ezzat March 22, 2005
The Arab League will convene in Algeria this week to mark its sixtieth anniversary and develop a common stance on the Syria-Lebanon conflict and other regional problems. Or so the organizers hope. In fact, representatives from the 22 member states disagree on a number of key issues, making consensus unlikely. Although Arab nations are united in supporting Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon, each has...

Preventing a War over Taiwan

Kenneth Lieberthal February 24, 2005
An escalation of the ongoing standoff between Taiwan and China could draw the already over-committed United States military into an unpleasant – and unnecessary – armed conflict. As political scientist Kenneth Lieberthal writes, political missteps on both sides have inflamed already heated cross-Strait tensions. China's warnings of military action have been seen as empty threats....

A Dose of Realism

Philip Bowring February 22, 2005
China's desire to pressure Taiwan into unification has been stymied by Japan and the United States, who have stressed the need for "peaceful resolution" – tantamount to supporting the status quo. Both countries, while officially supportive of One China, have other pressing strategic considerations. Japan is increasingly concerned with Chinese arms development, as well as Beijing...

With Neighbors Like These

V. Sudarshan February 18, 2005
India's refusal to participate in the SARC summit earlier this month was a direct reaction to trouble in three of its neighboring countries: Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan. The crisis in Kathmandu has been particularly difficult for India, one of Nepal's biggest trading partners. Many New Delhi diplomats believe that India's best course is to successfully convince King Gyanendra of...

The Beirut Blast Shakes the Middle East

Rami G. Khouri February 18, 2005
Though American and Israeli occupations routinely hog headlines around the world, another occupation in the Middle East has won international attention this week. The assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri on Monday raised fresh questions about the continued Syrian military presence in Lebanon. Syrian troops were initially stationed in Lebanon to preserve its fragile unity...

International Community Calls for a Free and Sovereign Lebanon

Marianne Stigset February 17, 2005
Though President Bush did not include Syria in his famous "Axis of Evil," he may as well have. Thanks to Syria's defiant and often belligerent stance towards US policy in the Middle East, officials in Washington have taken an increasingly critical approach to the country and its Baathist government. The assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri has only heaped...