In The News

Can of Worms?

Gamal Nkrumah June 25, 2004
Al-Qaeda may have penetrated deep into the Saudi security apparatus, says this article in Egypt's Al-Ahram Weekly. Officials deny that there is a problem and are working hard to contain the terrorists, even killing Al-Qaeda’s reputed leader in Saudi Arabia last Friday. But the rapid replacement of this man by Al-Oufi, a former policeman and war veteran of Afghanistan, suggests both the...

U.S. Drops Plan to Exempt G.I.'s From U.N. Court

Warren Hoge June 24, 2004
With only one week left before a special exemption for US troops was set to expire at the United Nations, Washington has said it will no longer seek to protect its military from prosecution by the International Criminal Court. For two years running, the US has received a special one-year exemption from the UN Security Council that prevents its civilian and military personnel taking part in peace...

Taiwan Urged to Buy US Weapons

Charles Snyder June 23, 2004
In April 2001, US President George Bush proposed to sell Taiwan a weapons package to help protect itself against possible attacks by China. This week, a Taiwanese delegation made a three-day visit to Washington to discuss the prospects for buying such a weapons package. This article in the Taipei Times reports that the delegation discussed with top defense and State Department officials Taiwan...

Inside America's Secret Afghan Gulag

Duncan Campbell June 23, 2004
In May graphic evidence of American soldiers torturing Iraqi prisoners was presented to the worldwide media, causing an uproar and leading to charges of abuse that have reached into the highest levels of American policymaking. With the world's attention focused on Iraq, say the authors of this article in the UK's Guardian, similar – if not worse – abuses have been carried out in...

Roh Stands by Deployment of Korean Troops in Iraq

Seo Hyun-jin June 22, 2004
The government will not give in to terrorists demands, says the President of South Korea. Iraqi militants are threatening to kill a South Korean national they captured in Iraq if Seoul insists on sending more troops to the war-torn country, but President Roh Moo-hyun says his country will not waver. Beginning in early August, South Korea will send another 3,000 troops to the country, making it...

Terrorism Could Cost East Asia 3% in Growth over 5 Years: Study

Donald Urquhart June 22, 2004
A study by Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has found that the long-term economic effects of terrorist threats are substantial. The developing economies of East and Southeast Asia are most vulnerable to negative effects, the report says, as they are more dependent on exports and foreign direct investment than developed country economies. Economic growth in the region...

UK's Flawed Position on Global Court

Steve Crawshaw June 22, 2004
At the United Nations this week, the US is expected to request an extension of a resolution exempting its military personnel from prosecution at the newly established International Criminal Court. To grant such a request, say human rights advocates Steve Crawshaw and Richard Dicker, would weaken the Court and send a dangerous signal to the world. The Bush Administration's insistence on...