In The News

Seeking Effective Ways to Talk to the World

Daoud Kuttab October 17, 2005
In the wake of Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, Palestinians have to rebuild more than their country's physical infrastructure. The top brass of Palestinian public and private sectors gathered recently to discuss how to mold a more effective image of Palestine. Speakers agreed that while international public opinion bills the Palestinian cause as one of "the world's most just...

George W. Bush’s Suicidal Statecraft

Zbigniew Brzezinski October 14, 2005
Zibigniew Brzezinski, former national security adviser of President Jimmy Carter, is sounding an alarm at the danger that the current US policy has created for the country. In a sweeping criticism, he says that the invasion of Iraq has had a disastrous effect worldwide. “An intense political hatred for America, Britain and Israel,” he writes, “is drawing recruits for terrorism, not only from the...

U.S. faces challenges on three fronts

Kwon Ji-young October 14, 2005
In a speech at the World Knowledge forum in Seoul, Korea, renowned historian Paul Kennedy warned that America's status as an unchallenged global hegemon may be on the decline. The US faces three challenges that are currently threatening its sole-superpower status: terrorism, economic rivalries and a diminishing cultural reputation. At their current rates of growth, the economies of China...

"The Private Sector Is India's True Face – Open, Pragmatic"

Saumya Roy October 11, 2005
In an interview with Outlook India, Newsweek International editor Fareed Zakaria shares his thoughts about globalization and international politics, particularly with regard to India, China, and the United States. Zakaria opines that action is needed in order to bridge the gap between Washington policy wonks and the general public so that more Americans can learn about the rest of the world and...

"The Cardinal Rule ... You Don't Target Civilians"

Brian Whitaker October 4, 2005
As bombings and attacks kill dozens of Iraqis daily, the rhetoric surrounding Iraq's invasion has remained polarized and extreme. In the international community, groups like Human Rights Watch (HRW) often focus on the human cost of the war – regardless of politics. The group's Middle East director insists, "US forces have used excessive and indiscriminate force, tortured detainees...

The World Loves America But Resists Its Power

Rami G. Khouri September 29, 2005
On Saturday, protesters snaked through the streets of Washington in opposition to American actions in the Middle East. These demonstrations paled in comparison to those three years ago, but what anti-war demonstrators have lost in numbers, they may have gained in unlikely allies in the establishment. Mainstream foreign policy strategists are now seriously questioning American "liberal...

Making Education the Focus of Gulf-Europe Ties

Dr. Christian Koch September 28, 2005
The annual ministerial meetings of the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council have, in recent years, been mostly oriented towards addressing pressing security and trade concerns. Over recent years, the dialogue between the two regions has mostly dealt with Iran’s nuclear program, human rights issues in the Gulf, the training of Iraqi security officials and expanding economic ties. But, according to...