In The News

Brazil's Big Stake in Cotton Likely to Become Bigger

Todd Benson June 29, 2004
For some time now, Brazil has been a leading critic of cotton subsidies of over $3 billion paid out to American cotton growers. Its stand against such supports, which leads to increased output in the US and artificially depresses global prices, is finally paying off. With the World Trade Organization ruling in early June that American cotton subsidies violated international trade rules, Brazil is...

U.S. Restrictions on Trips to Cuba are Inhumane

Jim Defede June 29, 2004
This commentary in the Miami Herald discusses the new travel restrictions enforced by the Bush administration, which will limit family visits to Cuba from once a year to once every three years. The author argues that this new policy is merely an election-year strategy designed to get older Cuban-Americans to vote for the Republican incumbent in November's US presidential election. The travel...

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...

U.S. Drops Plan to Exempt G.I.'s From U.N. Court

Warren Hoge June 24, 2004
With only one week left before a special exemption for US troops was set to expire at the United Nations, Washington has said it will no longer seek to protect its military from prosecution by the International Criminal Court. For two years running, the US has received a special one-year exemption from the UN Security Council that prevents its civilian and military personnel taking part in peace...

Key Cocaine Routes Closed, Feds Say

Jay Weaver June 24, 2004
US officials with the Drug Enforcement Administration have arrested another 50 cocaine smugglers, cutting the total supply of cocaine entering the US by 10 percent over five years. Colombia has long been the main source of cocaine for the American market, but smugglers have had to take a circuitous route through the Caribbean island nations to get to their drop off points in southern Florida....

Rumsfeld Approved Methods for Guantanamo Interrogations

Jess Bravin June 10, 2004
According to a memo reviewed by the Wall Street Journal, US Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld agreed in December 2002 to allow for a variety of harsh interrogation methods at Guantanamo Bay. "Mild non-injurious physical contact," "stress positions", and forced nudity were among the techniques approved for interrogating prisoners held at the US military installation, this...

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'...