In The News

Gulf Security in a Globalizing World: Going beyond US Hegemony

Michael Kraig June 29, 2004
War and domestic political uncertainty have reigned in the Middle East during the past three decades. But one strategic reality has steadfastly evolved: the rise of the United States as an external guarantor of Gulf security. The continued presence of 138,000 US troops in Iraq after the formal handover of sovereignty is the latest reminder. However, while US military dominance may be...

Give the Transatlantic Alliance a Fresh Start

Charles Powell June 28, 2004
Transatlantic relations are in a "terminal" stage and must be mended, writes Charles Powell, former adviser on foreign affairs and defense to Margaret Thatcher. The transatlantic alliance once enjoyed great heights – especially during the cold war – but now differences over the Iraq War have cast doubt on the concept of ‘the West’ as a global leader. Currently politicians and laypeople...

Taiwan Urged to Buy US Weapons

Charles Snyder June 23, 2004
In April 2001, US President George Bush proposed to sell Taiwan a weapons package to help protect itself against possible attacks by China. This week, a Taiwanese delegation made a three-day visit to Washington to discuss the prospects for buying such a weapons package. This article in the Taipei Times reports that the delegation discussed with top defense and State Department officials Taiwan...

China Debates Its “Peaceful Rise” Strategy

Evan S. Medeiros June 22, 2004
Will the 21st century see China become a strong but benevolent superpower? Since late 2003, top-level Chinese officials have used the term 'peaceful rise' to describe an ideal growth plan for Chinese economic, political, and military expansion. Whatever the future evolution of this blueprint for Chinese development, says political scientist Evan S. Medeiros, it is noteworthy that the...

Nations Vow Corruption Fight

Nancy San Martin June 9, 2004
At the recent annual general assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) held in Quito, Ecuador, member nations agreed to improve the situation of democracy, human rights, and corruption in the Americas. In order to combat corruption, they pledged to deny refuge to corrupt officials from other countries and agreed to cooperate in the recovery of stolen funds. Further, the OAS'...

The Case for Hypocrisy

Niall Ferguson June 7, 2004
Niall Ferguson, author of "Colossus: The Rise and Fall of the American Empire", makes his case against the much-demanded quick American exit from Iraq and transfer of full sovereignty to an Iraqi government. First of all, he says, the references to ‘full sovereignty’ made by US President George Bush and many others is unrealistic, because the US army will continue to have a strong...

June to November

Khaled Dawoud June 4, 2004
As the June 30 deadline for transfer of sovereignty approaches, it is increasingly clear that the triangular relationship between the US White House, the Iraqi Governing Council, and the United Nations is a bit lopsided. The UN envoy to Iraq, Lakhdar Brahimi, was supposed to be in charge of selecting Iraqis to fill key posts in a new interim government. But right up until the announcement of...