In The News

Schooled For a House of Islam

Noor Huda Ismail August 25, 2005
In analyzing the motives of terrorists who act in the name of global jihad, it is important to understand why many Muslims choose to lead partially secular lives – while others with the same education and background embrace extremism and violence. Educated in one of Indonesia's many Islamic schools, Noor Huda Ismail describes how many of his classmates opted to join a radical movement, Darul...

Why the India Deal Is Good

Selig S. Harrison August 24, 2005
Washington's agreement to support India's nuclear program – for civilian, not military, purposes – has been criticized for undermining the international nonproliferation regime. As Selig A. Harrison writes, much of the antagonism is unfounded. According to Harrison, India's increasing energy demands – along with ample deposits of a rare radioactive mineral – have allowed New...

Russia and China Rattle Sabers with Joint War Games

Tom Parfitt August 19, 2005
Russia and China recently began a series of joint military exercises, marking the countries' first cooperative military action. Officials on both sides explained that the collaboration was designed to protect against international terrorism and provide security for the region and the world. Some analysts believe there are some ulterior motives, but one thing is clear: Russia and China are...

Shared Pasts, Different Futures

Abdel-Moneim Said August 19, 2005
Often, examining the past sheds light on events of the present. It is in this vein that Abdel-Moneim Said, in Al-Ahram Weekly, explores a crucial issue: "Is jihad a reaction to colonial oppression?" Using China's turbulent history as a basis for comparison, Said finds that violence is not always the only viable response to such oppression. Indeed, from the Opium Wars to forced...

Washington Grapples with Uzbekistan's Eviction Notice

Ariel Cohen August 17, 2005
On July 31, Uzbek officials gave the US military six months to vacate the Karshi-Khanabad (K-2) air base. While the eviction does not represent a major setback to US strategic interests, it does highlight the tense political atmosphere in Central Asia. The region, comprised largely of former Soviet republics, has been the focus of a quiet tug-of-war between the United States and Russia – now...

How to Be Weapon-Ready NPT Members

Leonard S. Spector August 16, 2005
The simmering trouble with the North Korean and Iranian nuclear programs has come to a head, raising serious questions about the future of nonproliferation. These two countries' – one former and one current signatory of the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) – new demands that bend, but do not explicitly break, the NPT rules have resulted in a dangerous standoff. Nonproliferation expert...

FBI Sees Big Threat from Chinese Spies; Businesses Wonder

Jay Solomon August 12, 2005
David Szady, assistant director of the FBI's counterintelligence division claims, "China is the biggest (espionage) threat to the US today." Yet, the bureau's recent campaigns to combat Chinese corporate espionage are receiving mixed reactions, at best. The prosecution of several accused workers has led to anger within the Chinese and Chinese-American communities, as well...