In The News

Bush Tour: PR Exercise or Boon to Africa?

July 14, 2003
Was US President George W. Bush's trip to Africa primarily self-serving or truly centered on the continent's welfare? Throughout the five-day visit, critics asserted that the only interests the US President holds in Africa are American. Some observers believe that after finding itself short on friends in the UN Security Council prior to the Iraq War, the US is attempting to amass a...

When Frontier Justice Becomes Foreign Policy

Thomas Powers July 13, 2003
America has always been ambivalent about assassinations, says intelligence expert Thomas Powers. Though several leaders were targeted during the Cold War, such attempts were generally shrouded in secrecy and vehemently denied by government officials. The one endeavor that was publicized – against Fidel Castro – caused such public outcry that Presidents Ford and Reagan imposed executive orders...

Germany Topples EU Immigration Policy

Carola Schlagheck July 11, 2003
Refugees and migrants seeking work in Europe will be welcomed by some countries and rejected by others. In a last minute effort before the completion of the draft EU constitution, Germany successfully prevented the European Union from pursuing the harmonization of immigration policy throughout Europe. Instead, individual national governments will decide whether to allow non-EU nationals to...

Australia Steps Towards Stopping North Korean Ships

Tom Allard July 11, 2003
An international military force will soon begin intercepting ships transporting North Korean nuclear materials and missiles to other countries. Following the Proliferation Security Initiative's Brisbane meeting this week, Australia, the United States, and nine other nations announced that they will begin military exercises as early as September. The plan serves as the most aggressive joint...

Talk of a Washington Split Over North Korea Is Overblown

Victor D. Cha July 11, 2003
Compared with the Bush administration's speedy handling of the Iraq challenge, its response to North Korean provocation has been surprisingly slow. The reason is widely believed to be a split between hawks and doves in the administration. But Korea expert Victor Cha says the division is not as wide as press reports suggest. Everyone in Washington agrees: North Korea must disarm. And,...

Critical of U.S. Policies, Africans Are Giving Bush Chilly Reception

Dana Milbank July 10, 2003
African commentators refuse to tip-toe around the tough topics. Though US President Bush and South African President Mbeki carefully avoided contentious issues at their meeting, newspapers refused to muffle criticism of America's foreign policies and continued to express doubt about the sincerity of the superpower's interest in Africa. In general, says this Washington Post article,...

There is More to Transatlantic Relations Than Security

Jeffrey E. Garten July 9, 2003
Residual anger about the Iraq War needn’t impede economic cooperation between the US and Europe, maintains Jeffrey Garten, dean of the Yale School of Management. According to Garten, accusations of continued American unilateralism are largely exaggerated. US President Bush is currently engaged in multilateral global trade negotiations, regional economic discussions, and anti-AIDS efforts that...