In The News

Bad Trade-Off

Stuart Anderson November 10, 2006
Analysts anticipate that a US Congress controlled by Democrats will scrutinize and even stall free-trade agreements. Under Democrats, Congress will probably not extend the Republican president’s fast-track authority for approving trade agreements, which expires in July 2007. Democrats criticized the Bush administration for allowing manufacturing firms to invest in overseas plants, particularly...

Dispute Over NW Passage Revived

Doug Struck November 8, 2006
As the Arctic melts and expands the Northwest Passage, Canada claims sole jurisdiction of the waterway and the US labels it an international passage with free access for all. Canada prefers greater control over the passage to limit environmental or shipping problems – and even a former US ambassador to Canada agrees that stricter Canadian controls would be in the US interest. If foreign ships...

A Loud Message for Bush

Robin Toner November 8, 2006
Voters in the US soundly rejected policies of the Bush administration and the Republican Party by giving Democrats a secure majority in the House of Representatives and possibly even a slim majority in the Senate. All 435 members of the House ran for reelection and 33 of the 100 senators. The race in Virginia, too close to call, will determine which party controls the Senate. The shift in power...

As Jobs Leave America's Shores... The New Face of Class War

Paul Craig Roberts October 30, 2006
A series of US presidents ignored the implications of corporations relocating jobs and factories to developing nations with low labor costs. Such off-shoring has enriched a small and select group while gradually destroying US industries, occupations and communities. “No country benefits from trading its professional jobs, such as engineering, for domestic service jobs,” claims journalist Paul...

Bush Signs Fence Bill, Pushes Back

Nicole Gaouette October 27, 2006
President George Bush signed a bill that authorizes 700 miles of fence but does not cover costs. Critics on all sides questioned whether the bill may have been designed to shore up support for candidates favored by the president in the upcoming November 7 US congressional elections. Both Mexico’s president and president-elect lashed out against the plan, calling it an “embarrassment” for the US...

Panama Votes to Expand its Canal

October 25, 2006
With expanding global trade, container ships have more than doubled in size. To accommodate the massive ships, Panamanians approved the addition of a third navigational channel and construction of larger locks for the canal that crosses their country. The extra channel might also ease congestion at the canal, where ships sometimes wait days to cross between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans....

China's Iron Grip

Fred Hiatt October 10, 2006
The experience of Rebiya Kadeer, a 60-year old Chinese woman, Nobel Peace Prize nominee and critic of the regime in China, demonstrates the growing brazenness of that government in its retaliation against dissent. Released after six years in prison, Kadeer was exiled to the United States, only to find herself under surveillance by Chinese agents after she became involved with pro-democracy...