In The News

Anxious America – Part I

S.L. Bachman March 9, 2006
Americans tend to take contributions from foreigners for granted. But with the post- 9/11 obsession with security, the attitude is changing, leading to visa restrictions and worry about business deals that in the past raised nary a concern. In a two-part series, YaleGlobal examines the implication of this extra concern about security on US economic prosperity. Recently the announcement about a...

Iraq Through the Prism of Vietnam

William E. Odom March 8, 2006
Viewing the Vietnam War as consisting of three phases provides insight into the Iraq War, which is repeating the errors that marked each successive phase. The first phase of the Vietnam War commenced with a miscalculation of US strategic interests. What became the US imperative in Vietnam of “containing China,” preventing the Soviet Bloc from expanding in the region, had no solid basis....

US Reviewing Second Dubai Firm

Jonathan Weisman March 7, 2006
The Bush administration has reversed direction by notifying the US Congress about sales with national security implications. That comes after public outrage greeted a proposal that would transfer operations of six US ports to a Dubai company. Now the government says it will investigate two deals in particular: Dubai International Capital's $1.2 billion acquisition of London-based Doncasters...

Saudi Oil Facilities: Al Qaeda’s Next Target?

John C.K. Daly March 7, 2006
Osama bin Laden’s January promise of more attacks on the US was soon followed by a failed suicide attack on a refinery in Saudi Arabia. Any attack on Saudi oil facilities would bring immediate harm to the US and the rest of the world. Iraq already provides a powerful example of the deleterious effects of strikes against oil facilities. Since June 2003, Iraq facilities have been hit 298 times,...

Hacia Aguas Ignotas

Pratap Bhanu Mehta March 7, 2006

Nuclear Pact Launches India Into Uncharted Waters

Pratap Bhanu Mehta March 7, 2006
The deal between the US and India is historic, recognizing India’s evolution from a regional to global nuclear power. The deal – yet to be approved by the US Congress, the Indian parliament and the Nuclear Suppliers Group – offers short-term benefits for India, but the long-term implications are less clear, cautions policy analyst Pratap Bhanu Mehta. The agreement marks a major improvement in...

A Welcome End to India's Pariah Status

Bronwen Maddox March 3, 2006
US President Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced an agreement that would allow shipment of nuclear components to India for peaceful energy development. India agreed to “irreversibly” turn nearly two-thirds of its 22 nuclear reactors into civilian facilities that will be open for inspection. The agreement is not final, and the US Congress could block the deal, taking advantage of...