In The News

Preempting North Korean Threat in the Sea

Michael O'Hanlon June 20, 2003
In recent months, the United States has struggled to halt North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Now, the Bush Administration has proposed a “Proliferation Security Initiative” designed to cut off the communist country's trade in illicit weaponry and material. This is a worthy multilateral effort, argue Brookings Institution scholars Michael O'Hanlon and Michael A. Levi, but its...

Roosevelt Was Right about Multilateralism

Ernesto Zedillo June 13, 2003
What would provide the world with real hope of living in prosperity and peace? Global cooperation is a good starting point, says Ernesto Zedillo, former President of Mexico and current Director of the Yale Center for the Study of Globalization. The United States once took the lead in establishing international institutions to prevent conflict and promote global well-being. As such, the United...

Thaksin in America: PM Denies Visit is to Patch Up Ties with US

Yuwadee Tunyasiri June 10, 2003
Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra denies that his visit to the US is to smooth over tensions with US President Bush. This comes amidst reports alleging that Bush is displeased with Thailand’s refusal to acknowledge publicly its role in the war in Iraq, and in the fight against global terrorism. In response, Thai officials maintain that Thailand fully supports the international community...

Pressure Alone Will Not Deter Iran from Its Nuclear Path

George Perkovich June 9, 2003
Iran apparently has been seeking to develop nuclear weapons, but it can still be dissuaded from its dangerous course, writes George Perkovich, vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Despite Iran's inclusion in US President Bush's 'Axis of Evil', Perkovich believes that with subtle but substantive diplomacy from the US, Tehran could be...

Thailand Tiptoes in Step With American Antiterror Effort

Raymond Bonner June 8, 2003
Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been keeping his assistance to the US anti-terrorist effort private, fearing retaliation from terrorists and the impact of a public avowal on a tourist industry already suffering because of SARS and a bombing in Bali last year. Nevertheless, Thailand has been instrumental to the US anti-terrorism effort, providing interrogation facilities, the use of...

Airlines' Unwanted Fleet Grows in the Desert

Edward Wong June 7, 2003
In the midst of a slowing US economy, companies such as Avtel that provide storage and maintenance facilities for airlines, are doing lucrative business. In fact, the amount of business airlines do with a company like Avtel is a good way to gauge both the failing airline industry's health and the remaining strength of individual airlines. Indeed, post September 11 declines in air travel and...

Poor Show at Evian

David Tresilian June 6, 2003
The recent G-8 meeting in Evian, France attracted particular attention because it was the first time leaders of the west met after the U.S. war on Iraq. Also, in an effort to widen the scope of dialogue, for the first time, leaders from some developing countries were invited to attend the summit. Although the original agenda included major global issues such as access to water, the fight against...