In The News

A Bird With Just One Wing

Mustafa El-Labbad October 10, 2003
Iran's enrichment of depleted uranium has been the subject of increasing concern in the international community recently, particularly by the US. This article in Egypt's Al-Ahram Weekly argues that by using the UN's nuclear inspection arm, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to put pressure on Tehran, Washington is not only seeking to force Iran to reveal its nuclear...

US Agents Target Indonesia in Rigid Visa Checks

Tiarma Siboro October 9, 2003
As part of America's global war against terrorism, the US Department of Homeland Security announced it will deploy agents to oversee visa approval at US embassies and consulates in Indonesia and four other Muslim countries. The plan is not yet official – the Indonesian government said it was unaware of the proposed measures, and US embassy officials say Washington "is still discussing...

US Business Interest in Singapore Triples Due to FTA: US Officials

October 8, 2003
Terrorist attacks and activity in Southeast Asia have not deterred American businesses from venturing into Singapore, according to the US ambassador to that city-state. In the past year, US small- and medium-sized businesses have been setting up shop in the country at a quick pace, Ambassador Frank Lavin said. Last month, the US and Singapore signed a free trade agreement (FTA) set to take...

A Glimpse into the Terrorist Mind

Lee Kuan Yew October 7, 2003
The recent trial of terrorists accused in the Bali bombings prompts Lee Kuan Yew, Senior Minister of Singapore, to ask the question - what makes a terrorist? What he finds is that such recruits are often “vulnerable to religious indoctrination by charismatic preachers who employ strict discipline.” As a result, for these people, self-sacrifice and martyrdom become their highest purpose in life...

Measure Would Alter Nuclear Nonproliferation Policy

R. Jeffrey Smith October 4, 2003
In an effort to reduce the threat of nuclear weapons, the US has made an effort to reduce global trade in bomb-grade uranium, which is often used for medical isotope production. In recent years, Washington has required isotope-producing firms to move towards use of low-enriched uranium, which has less destructive capabilities. But a provision in an energy bill currently under consideration by the...

Roh Says Iraq Troops Hinge on NK Nukes

Sim Sung-tae October 2, 2003
Though the US has made an effort to keep the security issues of North Korea and Iraq separate, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun views them as connected. President Roh hesitates to deploy any troops to the Middle East, thus sending an "indirect message" to the US to consider the non-aggression pact that North Korea has been demanding. According to the author, as the US continues to...

North Korea Says It Is Using Plutonium to Make A-Bombs

James Brooke October 2, 2003
While claiming to be producing plutonium for nuclear weapons, Pyongyang's vice foreign minister also emphasized that "We have no intention of transferring any means of that nuclear deterrence to other countries." Apparently, the communist regime wants to avoid pushing Washington so far that the Bush administration would declare the need for a pre-emptive strike. But analysts...