In The News

Transcript of Pakistan at the Crossroads – Part II

August 9, 2007
On August 7, more than a month before Ms. Benazir Bhutto announced the date of her return to Pakistan, she sat down with YaleGlobal Online editor Nayan Chanda to discuss the state of her country and why she was determined to return home. She did return as she had said she would, and on December 27, 2007, she was killed in a terrorist attack. It was a death as foretold. Her comment on the task at...

Pakistan at the Crossroads – Part I

Philip H. Gordon August 7, 2007
The US scrambles to manage multiple fronts in its war against terror. The US invaded Afghanistan shortly after the 9/11 attacks, forcing the Taliban government to fall. But six years later, the nation is still far from secure and cannot hope to achieve stability without assistance from Pakistan, where Al Qaeda fighters are now said to hide. This two-part series examines various efforts afoot to...

Khomeini's Children

August 3, 2007
The governments of the US and Iran may dismiss each other as great evils, but the youth in Iran may see merit in some American ways. A literate, urbanized youth population, comprising the majority of the post-revolution generation, remains religious and traditional, but is unwilling to forgive Iranian leaders for economic failures. Unemployment, addiction and prostitution are widespread. Although...

When Democracy Goes Bad

Gwynne Dyer August 3, 2007
After independence from Pakistan in 1971, Bangladesh was ruled by dictators for 20 years. Even after the advent of democracy in 1991, power alternated between legacy candidates from the previous era. In January 2007, the army took matters into its hands, actively purging politicians accused of corruption. Eliminating corruption is a worthy goal in any country. But military takeovers, such as...

Kenyan Farmers’ Fate Caught Up in US Aid Rules

Celia W. Dugger August 2, 2007
US legislators debate a massive farm bill – estimated at more than $260 billion – which will fund loans, subsidies, conservation and many other agriculture activities over the next five years. The Bush administration has proposed allowing the purchase of up to $300 million worth of food in poor countries to quicken response times during times of emergency. The US often provides food aid to Africa...

The US and India: Nuclear Bonding

Nayan Chanda August 2, 2007
The leaders of India and the US reached an agreement on civilian nuclear cooperation, marking a major strategic shift in US policy. The deal still requires approval from the US Congress, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the international Nuclear Suppliers Group. The Bush administration has often resisted constraints of international agreements, and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of...

Grand Strategy for a Divided America

Charles A. Kupchan August 1, 2007
The US has overextended itself on international security matters, failing to gain widespread cooperation with the international community in recent years. As a result, the US has failed in achieving some major goals – promoting democracy, defeating terror and encouraging free trade to alleviate poverty. US voters, observing mounting debt, with little results, are increasingly divided about how to...