In The News

Two Years Later, a Thousand Years Ago

Robert Wright September 11, 2003
Until September 11, some viewed the globalization of American values in terms of a manifest destiny. However, on 9/11 nineteen hijackers "turned the tools of globalization against the system" and blew that view to pieces. Two years later, skepticism about globalization's benefits still persists. For evidence, one need only notice that anti-American terror networks still abound,...

Al-Azhar on Air

Rania Khallaf September 8, 2003
After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the US, Washington invested money and resources in trying to improve the image of the US in the Middle East. Now, it seems, the Middle East may be ready to launch its own media offensive. Egypt's venerable Al-Azhar University is considering launching its own satellite channel "to refute people's misconceptions about Islam and confront the...

China Girds for Wider Influence in Asia

Frank Ching September 6, 2003
Last month's meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization demonstrated China's growing influence across Asia. Following 9/11, this six-nation group, which also includes Russia and many Central Asian countries, agreed to establish a regional antiterrorism center in Uzbekistan. The reason for this move may have been strategic. Ever since the country agreed to host US troops engaged...

Who's Winning the War on Terror?

Ahmed Rashid September 5, 2003
Two years after the September 11 attacks on the US, the American-led war on terror is far from over. Writing from the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, veteran journalist and author Ahmed Rashid says that the Taliban is growing in strength, drawing support from Islamic extremists and tribal brethren in Pakistan. US forces and the Afghan soldiers they've trained are under persistent attack from...

Come Clean

Najam Sethi September 5, 2003
Officers and non-commissioned officers in the Pakistani Army were jailed recently in response to reports of their suspected collusion with Al Qaeda and other extremist organizations. But allegations run deeper. A recent book claims that Pakistan's late Air Chief Marshal knew about and helped to plan Al Qaeda's attacks on the U.S. And of course, Pakistan did provide support to the...

India and Israel Ready to Consummate Secret Affair

Edward Luce September 4, 2003
At first glance, India and Israel seem like improbable allies. India has long championed Palestinian rights, and the country’s large Muslim population makes cooperation with Israel politically dangerous. But 11 years after New Delhi established full relations with Tel Aviv, the two countries share increasingly strong ties based on a common desire to defeat violence rooted in Islamic...

Indonesia Questions US Commitment to Fight Terrorism

September 3, 2003
The United States is dragging its feet in the war on terrorism, says Indonesia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda. By failing to grant Indonesian detectives access to Hambali, a terror suspect captured three weeks ago by US and Thai authorities, Washington effectively prevented Indonesia from getting information needed to prosecute another suspect, Hassan claimed. Just yesterday...