In The News

Ramallah’s Virtual Reality

Henryk M. Broder January 27, 2006
If the Palestinians truly want to destroy Israel, they are probably alone in the Arab world. With Israel committed to the unilateral resolution of conflict with Palestine, the cries for justice from Palestinians inspire less desire to wipe Israel off the map. Still, the Palestinians have embraced a “virtual” reality – a version of their own condition that is primal and reductive, with a focus on...

Stopping the Iranian Bomb – Part II

George Perkovich January 26, 2006
Iran’s revived uranium enrichment program is a cause for general concern and not only because it could lead to the nuclear arming of Iran. Attempts to halt the Iranian program by imposing sanctions could also send oil prices skyrocketing. In the final part of this series on what to do with the Iranian challenge, non-proliferation specialist George Perkovich contends that sanctions and military...

How Does al Qaeda Send Terror Tapes Without Getting Caught?

Alexis Debat January 25, 2006
After al Jazeera broadcasts a terror tape, questions arise: How did the tape wind up at the Qatari news channel? Is there a way to follow the trail back to bin Laden? US intelligence has asked these questions repeatedly. Last May the arrest in Pakistan of Abu Faraj al Libbi, one of al Qaeda’s operational commanders, shed light on the courier system used to transport messages from terrorist...

Stopping the Iranian Bomb – Part I

Gary Samore January 24, 2006
In early January, Iran resumed its uranium enrichment program, claiming civilian purposes. Iran’s long record of clandestine activity in this regard, however, leaves only one conclusion – it is the first step toward weapons capability. The challenge that the world now faces is how to stop an oil-rich Iran from exploiting the current nervousness about oil price rise from going ahead. In a series...

Hong Kong As a Clue to the Future China

Michael E. DeGolyer January 23, 2006
Since China gained control of Hong Kong in the 1997 handover from Britain, international observers have wondered whether Beijing would allow the island to retain its separate identity. In many ways, Beijing has indeed followed its promise of "one country, two systems," recognizing that Hong Kong's property rights and entrepreneurial spirit do much to fuel the economic growth of...

"Voice of the People"

January 23, 2006
After polling more than 50,000 people from around the world, a World Economic Forum survey, administered by Gallup, "overwhelmingly found that political leaders are dishonest, have too much power and are too easily influenced." The results of the survey, branded the "Voice of the People," were announced just before the start of the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in...

Unrequited Responsibility: Japan and Iran

Mindy L. Kotler January 20, 2006
Despite a range of proposals for handling the emerging crisis, Europe and China share US concern over Iran's defiance in developing its nuclear enrichment program, as well as recent disturbing remarks about Israel. But Japan, aspiring to become a member of the UN Security Council, has failed to join the international outcry. Instead of publicly condemning Iranian President's allegations...