In The News

Seoul in Dilemma Over Iraq Troops

Seo Hyun-jin November 15, 2003
With the original goal of helping the United States to reconstruct Iraq, South Korea sent 675 army engineers and medics there over the summer. But now, citing security concerns, South Korea will most likely not meet a US request for 5,000 combat troops to help stabilize the country. Some Korean officials are worried that their country's reluctance to commit more troops in Iraq may damage the...

Appreciating Resistance

Gihan Shahine November 14, 2003
As Iraqi resistance to US occupation becomes more intense and more deadly, people in Egypt are applauding the attempts of their fellow Arabs to oust the American invaders, says this report in Egypt's Al-Ahram Weekly. People have also become increasingly angry towards America's support of Israel. "Killing an American soldier has become synonymous with killing an Israeli soldier,...

Thailand's Risk Level for Expatriates Raised

Marisa Chimprabha November 13, 2003
Due to political and security concerns, Thailand has joined Burma, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia as a "medium risk" destination for Israeli and Western tourists. In recent years, the country has attracted more tourists and business people from the West and Israel than any other country in the region. Unfortunately, these tourists may become easy targets for terror groups like the...

Surprise Word on Nuclear Gains by North Korea and Iran

David E. Sanger November 12, 2003
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has issued reports stating that North Korea and Iran are both further along in the development of nuclear weapons than what was previously known or expected. Iran's program particularly has surprised experts, as its efforts to enrich uranium and to separate plutonium have been well-hidden for 18 years. The general consensus remains that North...

Another American Casualty: Credibility

Zbigniew Brzezinski November 9, 2003
After using faulty intelligence to justify war, the US has isolated itself and lost the world’s trust, argues Zbigniew Brzezinsky, national security adviser to President Jimmy Carter. This isolation is enhanced by the US government’s “paranoic” view of the world, in which nations who oppose elements of US foreign policy are seen as enemies. The US “cannot have a relationship if we only dictate...

What Does America Mean by Democracy in Iraq?

Salamander Davoudi November 7, 2003
The Financial Times review on Arab press commentary for the past week highlights some of the most hotly debated issues on security in the Middle East. An article in Al-Hayat says that the United States should not draft a constitution for Iraq, but rather that such a job should be done by an elected Iraqi legislative body; moving west, another of its editorials argues that "Israel has...

President Bush Discusses Freedom in Iraq and Middle East

George W. Bush November 6, 2003
President Bush challenged Middle Eastern countries – allies and enemies alike – to embrace democracy and recognize the fall of Saddam Hussein as "a watershed event in the global democratic revolution." In a speech given in honor of the 20th anniversary of the National Endowment for Democracy, Bush aligned his administration's intentions in Iraq with efforts to establish democracy...