In The News

US and Global Security: An Interview with Admiral William J. Fallon

March 6, 2009
Admiral William J. Fallon, former commander of US Central Command, analyzes the ongoing US role in Iraq and Afghanistan, including criticisms about troop numbers, in this interview with Nayan Chanda, YaleGlobal editor. Fallon also describes security matters related to Pakistan, Iran, China and Japan. The consequences of any military action can extend far and wide, and Fallon notes: “I think one...

A Dangerous Void in Pakistan

Ahmed Rashid March 4, 2009
Many analysts had hoped that the democratic elections in 2008 and the resulting civilian government might stabilize Pakistan. Instead, a dithering and weak government which tried to buy off Islamic militants by a controversial ceasefire now face a breakdown of the ceasefire, in the midst of new terrorist attacks, political protests and economic meltdown. The result is that NATO and the US,...

Is a Nuclear Deal with North Korea Feasible?

Peter M. Beck February 27, 2009
North Korea is getting ready to launch a satellite again, using a long-range rocket that could reach Alaska. Analysts wonder if this is an attention getter for the new US administration or an attempt by a fading leader to prepare the population for succession while warning foreign enemies. The leader of the struggling nation, Kim Jong Il, could be testing out an old trick on a new administration...

The War on Drugs Is a Failure

Fernando Henrique Cardoso February 23, 2009
In 1971, US President Richard Nixon declared that fighting drug abuse would be a major priority. More than 30 years later, three former presidents of Brazil, Colombia and Mexico label the policies that attack the supply side a failure. “Prohibitionist policies based on eradication, interdiction and criminalization of consumption simply haven't worked,” write Brazil’s Fernando Henrique...

End Game in Sri Lanka

Harsh V. Pant February 23, 2009
Civil war has divided Sri Lanka since 1983, as Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam fought for a separate state for Tamils, which comprise 18 percent of the country’s population. But global and regional events that conspired against the rebel cause can’t be counted on during the post-conflict phase, explains Harsh V. Pant, a lecturer in defense studies at King’s College in London. Several factors...

Guadeloupe Riots Turn Paradise Into War Zone

Lizzy Davies February 20, 2009
Some economic patterns are troublesome: A stunning locale captivates visitors, a tourism industry emerges, land prices skyrocket as foreign investors compete, until local residents can no longer afford to live in their own community. On the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, more than 70 percent of people live in government housing, a global economic downturn has diminished tourism, and a...

Afghanistan’s Perilous Roads: Allies Struggle to Find Safer Supply Route

Dieter Bednarz February 18, 2009
The tribal people who live in the remote borderlands between Pakistan and Afghanistan are irritated about ongoing intrusions into their territory and way of life. As result, attacks against NATO convoys are on the rise along the few rugged roads between the two countries. Plans are underway for sending more NATO troops to stabilize Afghanistan, and that may force the allies to look for...