In The News

As Asia Rises, New Challenges Emerge

Barry Desker July 11, 2013
Asia’s economic rise came amidst a period of peace and stability, explains Barry Desker, dean of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. “If Asia heads towards a period of conflict and uncertainty, with rising tensions in the South China Sea and East China Sea or the threat of nuclear conflict in East Asia, resources will be diverted to strengthening defense capabilities and foreign...

Egyptian Coup Splits Middle East

Dilip Hiro July 11, 2013
Massive protests on Egyptian streets, followed by a swift military coup, have underscored confusion in the region. Syrian leaders, struggling with their own insurrection, relying on support from the Islamist government in Iran, have suggested that religion is no basis for governance; Iran, after crushing opposition protests in 2009, urged Egypt’s protesters to resist frustration. Some US...

Algeria’s Shadow Hangs Over Egypt’s Revolution

Roula Khalaf July 11, 2013
Algerian Islamists advise supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi to resist militarization in avenging a military coup, or that could lead to civil war and foreign jihadists hijacking Islamist agendas, advise Algerian Islamists. “This was sound counsel from a North African state that suffered more than 10 years of civil war after a 1991 Islamist electoral victory was abruptly cancelled by...

Snowden’s Revelations Highlight Moral Decline of America

Pratap Bhanu Mehta July 9, 2013
Alleged routine US surveillance of internet use and phone calls is “morally problematic,” argues Pratap Bhanu Mehta, president of the Centre for Policy Research in India. He lists several reasons: designation of a separate set of human rights for foreigners versus citizens; blithe suggestions that the US need not justify violation of non-citizens’ basic privacy rights; US disregard for the rule...

Why US Is Being Humiliated by the Hunt for Snowden

Simon Tisdall July 9, 2013
US failure to nab a former National Security Agency contract employee who's spilling secrets has become a source of embarrassment for the government, Simon Tisdall writes for CNN. Stern demands from a range of US political leaders for immediate extradition of Snowden, along with attempts to extend US law across the world with vague warnings of consequences for Russia and China, seem...

Rerouted Morales Plane Has South American Leaders Irate

July 5, 2013
Leaders of Bolivia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Argentina, Uruguay and Suriname had a special meeting to address broad concerns about US and European regard for Latin America in terms of diplomacy and surveillance. The meeting was occasioned by the rerouting of a plane carrying Bolivian President Evo Morales as he left Russia. European air-traffic controllers reportedly assisted the US in forcing the...

A New Age of Protests

Frida Ghitis July 5, 2013
Turkey and Brazil are pointed to as economic models for developing nations. However, massive protests – and two contrasting responses – may tarnish their image. In Istanbul, a police crackdown contributed to a small protest over plans to destroy a park exploding in size and intensity, prompting questions if the Erdogan goals are security or authoritarian control. In Brazil, the largest protests...