In The News

The War on Iraq Has Made Moral Cowards of Us All

Scott Ritter November 1, 2004
A recent report from the Lancet medical journal claims that there have been 100,000 Iraqi civilian casualties since the beginning of the war in Iraq. The US and UK governments have moved to discredit these findings, but Scott Ritter, former weapons inspector in Iraq, argues that they are trying to deny the hard facts. In a war that claims to benefit from precision technology, the US-led military...

A Timely Initiative

October 28, 2004
At a meeting last week in Kazakhstan, three of the world's most populous countries agreed to collaborate and redefine efforts against terrorism in Asia. Though refraining from outright criticism of the US-led endeavors, foreign ministers from India, Russia, and China agreed that incidences of terrorism in their respective countries are often put aside in favor of Western agendas. They hope,...

Thailand Only Feeds Muslim Discontent

Philip Bowring October 27, 2004
When 84 unarmed Muslim demonstrators died in southern Thailand this week, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra commended the anti-riot forces for their excellent work. The Prime Minister made no apologies, instead blaming the victims for their own deaths. This callous response may have serious international implications, argues the International Herald Tribune. Thailand is an integral player in...

Officials Fear Iraq's Lure for Muslims in Europe

Craig S. Smith October 23, 2004
In recent weeks, the US military has singled out the Iraqi city of Falluja as the next stage in its campaign against rebel militants. According to US forces, the city harbors many non-Iraqi militants, who are primarily responsible for the nearly daily bombings that wrack Iraq. Recent intelligence investigations have shown that an increasing number of Muslims from European countries are joining...

Spread of 'Preemptive-ism' and Indonesia Sovereignty

Mohamad Mova Al Afghani October 7, 2004
Standing upon the precedent of US president George W. Bush, Australian Prime Minister John Howard has also claimed the right of his country to prevent terrorist attacks with preemptive strikes. In this op-ed from neighboring country Indonesia and likely home of many of the “terrorist bases” Howard wishes to target, the writer argues that the “doctrine” of preemption is not widely accepted in the...

Making Innocents Pay for Other's Sins

October 6, 2004
The continually fragile security situation in Iraq has bred a climate of fear for most foreigners present there. Soldiers, journalists, and independent civilian workers have all been the victims of kidnappings by insurgent groups in Iraq. Some of the kidnapped make it back to their countries or families, but many abductions have ended in execution, complete with grisly recordings. In light of the...

Back to Bases

Justin McCurry September 28, 2004
More than a simple holdover from World War II, US troops currently stationed in Japan are a security measure against possible regional conflicts in the Taiwan Strait or in Korea. Civilian residents of Okinawa, home of the largest military base, have long protested the intrusion on their daily life. Recent incidents, including the rape of a young girl by US servicemen and an accidental helicopter...