In The News

An Arab "Martyr" Thwarted

Neil MacFarquhar November 2, 2004
Militants and insurgents in Iraq have continuously attracted the world's attention as they carried out their beheadings and suicide bombings. Not all of the fighters, however, are Iraqis. According to this New York Times article, many of the suicide bombers are, in fact, Saudis, Lebanese, and Kuwaitis who are recruited through "an underground railroad funneling fighters to Iraq."...

The War on Iraq Has Made Moral Cowards of Us All

Scott Ritter November 1, 2004
A recent report from the Lancet medical journal claims that there have been 100,000 Iraqi civilian casualties since the beginning of the war in Iraq. The US and UK governments have moved to discredit these findings, but Scott Ritter, former weapons inspector in Iraq, argues that they are trying to deny the hard facts. In a war that claims to benefit from precision technology, the US-led military...

A Timely Initiative

October 28, 2004
At a meeting last week in Kazakhstan, three of the world's most populous countries agreed to collaborate and redefine efforts against terrorism in Asia. Though refraining from outright criticism of the US-led endeavors, foreign ministers from India, Russia, and China agreed that incidences of terrorism in their respective countries are often put aside in favor of Western agendas. They hope,...

Thailand Only Feeds Muslim Discontent

Philip Bowring October 27, 2004
When 84 unarmed Muslim demonstrators died in southern Thailand this week, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra commended the anti-riot forces for their excellent work. The Prime Minister made no apologies, instead blaming the victims for their own deaths. This callous response may have serious international implications, argues the International Herald Tribune. Thailand is an integral player in...

Officials Fear Iraq's Lure for Muslims in Europe

Craig S. Smith October 23, 2004
In recent weeks, the US military has singled out the Iraqi city of Falluja as the next stage in its campaign against rebel militants. According to US forces, the city harbors many non-Iraqi militants, who are primarily responsible for the nearly daily bombings that wrack Iraq. Recent intelligence investigations have shown that an increasing number of Muslims from European countries are joining...

Indonesia: Democracy Wins, but Danger Remains

Sadanand Dhume October 22, 2004
This week's inauguration of a new Indonesian president, elected with a strong mandate, has again shown that Islam is compatible with democracy. Coming shortly after the second anniversary of the Bali club bombings, the peaceful change in leadership provides some comfort to those concerned about the fate of the world's largest Muslim nation. However, as Indonesia-based journalist and...

Frustrations in Beijing

October 20, 2004
Because of geopolitical imperatives, Russia and China need each other's economic and political cooperation – all the more so, now that Putin is seeking to boost Russia's global influence in the US-dominated world order. According to this Japan Times editorial, however, recent speculation about a new Beijing-Moscow axis is exaggerated. The two governments sealed their relationship in...