In The News

New Reality of American Power

Paul Reynolds April 19, 2003
American power is the most important new reality of the 21st century, says Paul Reynolds, world affairs correspondent for the BBC News Online. Despite the continued relevance of alliances and multi-lateral organizations such as the UN, the massive show of force in Iraq should be a warning to all – including North Korea and Iran – that the Washington carries a very, very big stick. While the...

North Koreans and U.S. Plan Talks in Beijing Next Week

David E. Sanger April 16, 2003
The US will begin negotiations with North Korea in Beijing – the first talk between the two governments since North Korea threw out nuclear weapons inspectors. The US had contended that it would not talk to North Korea until it gave up its nuclear arms program. Furthermore, it feared that one-on-one talks with North Korea would drive a wedge between the US and its allies. North Korea, wishing to...

Syria Harbors Iraqis and Grants Transit to Hezbollah, U.S. Asserts

Don Van Natta Jr. April 15, 2003
US Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld has accused Syria of allowing members of Saddam Hussein’s family and former leadership circle to cross the border into Syria, and members of Hezbollah to cross the other way into Iraq. Both Syria and Hezbollah deny the accusations, but the US is applying pressure because it believes Hezbollah has plans to attack American interests in the region, and...

Clinton Calls on Bush to Make Deal with North Korea

Marisa Helms April 14, 2003
"Former President Bill Clinton says he agrees with the Bush administration's fight against terrorism. But, he said it's North Korea, not Iraq that poses the biggest threat with its weapons of mass destruction." Clinton also declaims the Bush administration's tax cut proposal. Clinton proposes a comprehensive US foreign policy toward North Korea that would deter the...

U.S. Search for Illegal Arms Narrowed to About 36 Sites

Don Van Natta Jr. April 14, 2003
The search for chemical, biological and nuclear weapons in Iraq continues. Though US officials have “no doubt” they will find these weapons, their search has uncovered nothing as yet. The search to establish links between a terrorist group in Northern Iraq, Ansar-al-Islam, to Al Qaeda has also come up short. In the meantime, the US is compiling scores of files, computer hard disks, and compact...

N. Korea Shifts Stance on Nuclear Talks

James Brooke April 13, 2003
Since admitting to its hitherto-secret uranium enrichment program last October, North Korea has demanded bilateral talks with the United States to resolve the crisis. The U.S., however, has insisted on the participation of North Korea’s neighbors arguing that North Korean nuclear program was a matter of regional concern. North Korean refusal to take part in a multilateral discussion has raised...

Humiliation and Rage Stalk the Arab World

Neil MacFarquahar April 13, 2003
The current Arab attitude toward the American occupation of Iraq is skeptical, at best. Many suspect that America fought the war for oil and "to castrate the one country that remained a potential threat to Israel." In contrast, only a small minority of Arabs believes America will actually create a better Iraq. While few would openly support Saddam Hussein, they see him as a much more...