In The News

A Scary Thought: Loose Nukes in North Korea

Ashton B. Carter February 6, 2003
Until recently, North Korea’s plutonium, used to make nuclear weapons, was contained at one site. Now the material is being moved, possible to the couintry’s many caves, where it will be hard to find and destroy. This is only the beginning of the imminent threat posed by the country’s nuclear program. North Korea could sell some of its weapons material, or the material could fall into the wrong...

‘Iraq is not so far taking that one last chance' – Colin Powell

Colin Powell February 5, 2003
In a wide-ranging speech, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell outlines the case against Iraq. His conclusion: Iraq is in further material breach of previous UN resolutions. Providing satellite photos, tape recordings, and human intelligence, Powell says Iraq has misled inspectors, mislaid information, and misplaced weapons of mass destruction (WMD). But more worrying than this, according to...

Pyongyang's Aims Hidden by Veil of Rhetoric

Andrew Ward February 5, 2003
North Korea, often referred to as “the world’s most secretive state”, is distrusted by both South Korea and the United States, who point to the country’s extensive anti-American propaganda within its borders as well as its deceptive statements to outsiders. Even its action are difficult to judge, as some U.S. intelligence officials believe Pyongyang's recent apparent moves to re-start a...

To China, North Korea Looks Radioactive

Joseph Kahn February 2, 2003
China’s reluctance to negotiate directly with North Korea about its nuclear program has surprised the Bush administration and Chinese foreign policy experts. China’s interests could be seriously threatened if North Korea is not dissuaded from building nuclear weapons. Such a buildup in North Korea could shift the balance of power in the region, should surrounding nations like Japan revive their...

The Qaeda Vipers in Europe’s Bosom

Jonathan Stevenson February 1, 2003
Europe has been a hotbed of al Qaeda activity, even serving as a planning center for some of the militant Muslims who carried out the September 11 attacks on the US. Social conditions for Muslims in Europe are such that many Muslim immigrants feel alienated in places like Britain. Though European governments have been aggressive in arresting terrorist suspects since September 11 and have...

Crisis Over Saddam a Huge Test for Europe

Doug Bandow January 31, 2003
The leaders of France and Germany both threaten to veto a UN Security Council war resolution. Such a veto could deal a significant blow to the United States’ legitimacy in pursuing war. For the United States to take that threat seriously, however, France and Germany must develop what is now ambiguous opposition into real action and support from other like-minded nations. Otherwise, Doug Bandow...

Satellites Said to See Activity at North Korean Nuclear Site

David E. Sanger January 31, 2003
It seems the fear of many analysts about North Korea is coming true. On January 28 a YaleGlobal article raised the possibility that North Korea may be rushing to reprocess its 8,000 rods of spent fuel into weapons-grade plutonium and that it could even be done without being observed by spy satellite. Today this new article in the New York Times quotes US intelligence sources as saying that "...