In The News

Free at Last Through an Arab-Western Joint Venture

Rami G. Khouri March 2, 2005
Across the Middle East, signs of democracy are emerging. In Lebanon, peaceful protests toppled the Syrian-backed government. Palestinians successfully pressured their leader to fill his cabinet with qualified, fresh faces. And the Egyptian president announced support for a law permitting open elections. Many attribute this burst of democratic spirit to the US invasion of Iraq. While Daily...

The Problem Is the Extended Presidency

Chibli Mallat March 2, 2005
The Lebanese people launched a democratic revolution this week, as the sheer weight of street protests brought about the resignation of Prime Minister Omar Karami – thus toppling the Syrian-backed government. Protesters are now calling for a complete withdrawal of Syrian occupying forces and democratic parliamentary elections. However, according to this Daily Star commentary, these changes must...

Leveraging the Dragon: Toward "An Africa That Can Say No"

Chris Alden March 1, 2005
China is extending its economic influence to every corner of the world, and natural-resource-rich Africa is no exception. Between 2000 and 2003, China-Africa trade volume increased from US$10 billion to US$18 billion. However, some fear that this bilateral relationship is not built on equitable terms. According to economist Chris Alden, Africa's trade deficit with China has increased...

What Surprise?

Nicholas Eberstadt March 1, 2005
North Korea's long-term goal has always been reunification of the Korean peninsula – under the unconditional rule of Pyongyang's socialist dictatorship. While the United States, Japan, and other countries have tried to deter North Korea's nuclear and missile development programs by offering aid, only a short-sighted strategist would reason that Pyongyang's objective is to...

Les relations americano-russes sont indemnes, pour le moment

Dmitry V. Suslov February 28, 2005

US-Russia Relations Saved for Now

Dmitry V. Suslov February 28, 2005
Though the recent meeting between US President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin ended predictably with handshakes and smiles, all is not well with bilateral relations. As Dmitry V. Suslov reports, the superficial glazing-over of fundamental disagreements, though a short-term diplomatic "band-aid," may do substantial harm to regional and international politics. Of...

Eye of the Storm

Dina Ezzat February 25, 2005
In the wake of the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, Syria has landed in hot soup. Though accusations of complicity in Hariri's killing remain unsubstantiated, Syria faces mounting pressure over its occupation of Lebanon. Not only does Washington want to erase Syrian influence in Lebanon, but US officials also hope to coerce Syria into tightening its border with...