In The News

Exit From Iraq Should Be Through Iran

William E. Odom May 29, 2007
The US Congress and the White House have been at odds over the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq for months, but brief historical reflection suggests that the only option left for Washington is to link forces with Iran. Starting in the mid-1950s, the US maintained stability in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf by establishing bilateral relationships with Israel, Iran and Saudi Arabia, and...

Militants Widen Reach as Terror Seeps Out of Iraq

Michael Moss May 29, 2007
US leaders described the war in Iraq as a defensive measure and a way to contain terrorists, and for the past four years, militants from around the world flocked to Iraq to fight US forces. But chaos is plentiful in Iraq, and experts report that organizers have expanded their mission to thwart Americans and any governments that support US goals, by dispatching fighters to other nations, including...

Trading Civil War for Small-Town Sweden

Charles Hawley May 29, 2007
Almost 4 million Iraqis have left their homes, fleeing sectarian violence in Iraq. Millions of refugees have fled to neighboring countries of Jordan and Syria, but growing numbers look to the stability of the West. Iraqi security, language and computer workers who assisted US troops shortly after the invasion in 2003 quickly became targets for assassination. Asylum policies vary widely...

Bush May Turn to UN in Search for Iraq Solution

Simon Tisdall May 24, 2007
The Bush administration is considering an alternative to the surge, and is in the process of internationalizing the Iraq crisis. This plan involves an expanded role for the United Nations, and also a greater role for regional countries, who must realize that their security depends on success in Iraq. Should these options fail, the US might, as a last resort, try to seek an arrangement with Mr....

Pakistan: Nuclear Power with Feet of Clay?

Husain Haqqani May 22, 2007
A nuclear-armed Pakistan may have the military capability worthy of an emerging global power, but its external power is belied by an increasingly precarious domestic situation. While the spread of anti-American and pro-Islamist sentiments in the past six years has empowered armed extremists and other non-state actors across the country, the educated middle class is increasingly disenchanted with...

Was Osama Right?

Bernard Lewis May 22, 2007
Wars of ideology extend over the long term, and the patient believer waits and allows, even encourages, his various enemies to destroy one another. Bernard Lewis, professor emeritus of Princeton, analyzes how the former Soviet Union and the US had contrasting responses to attacks throughout the latter part of the 20th century. In general, the Soviets had less trouble interacting in Muslim nations...

Solar Flashlight Lets Africa’s Sun Deliver the Luxury of Light to the Poorest Villages

Will Connors May 21, 2007
Items taken for granted in one country can be a life-changing force in poor nations. After learning that almost one third of the world’s population lacks access to lighting, Mark Bent, a former foreign-service officer, arranged design of a solar flashlight, manufacturing in China and distribution of more than 30,000 units to Africans in refugee camps and rural villages. The flashlights allow...