In The News

Not Everyone Got It Wrong on Iraq's Weapons

Scott Ritter February 5, 2004
For years, Scott Ritter, chief UN inspector in Iraq from 1991 to 1998, has maintained that Iraq's nuclear weapons program was defunct. Current evidence from David Kay's investigation suggests that Ritter was right. Yet Kay stated in his report on the Iraqi Survey Group's progress that "we were all wrong," ignoring the differing opinions of many UN workers. In this...

Impatient Jobs

Seema Sirohi January 20, 2004
The IT industry has started to chime in on the outsourcing debate. A group of the top eight American IT companies recently commissioned a report in favor of outsourcing, arguing that countries which yield to protectionism end up stifling their own industries and innovation. The report also slams the US educational system for not producing enough qualified graduates in math and engineering. Soon...

Will Washington Return to Supporting Freer Trade?

Susan Ariel Aaronson January 20, 2004
Has the US led the world in promoting a pro-free trade agenda? Looking at the rhetoric emanating from Washington in the early days of the Bush administration, one may think so, says globalization scholar Susan Ariel Aaronson. But looking at Washington's actions over the past two years, we must reach a different conclusion, she argues. US intransigence on decreasing subsidies to its...

U.S. Urged to Monitor Global Labor Policies

David Brown January 16, 2004
More can be done by government to encourage global best practices, say leaders of both multinational corporations and academic institutions. In fact, a study group comprised of businessmen and academics recently sent the US government 18 recommendations on social responsibility, such as requiring US companies to be liable for overseas actions, encouraging socially responsible purchasing by...

At Conference, Fox Backs Bush's Guest-Worker Plan

Elisabeth Bumiller January 13, 2004
At a 34-country meeting in Mexico, achieving agreement on a free-trade zone of the Americas seems unlikely, says this article in the New York Times. Washington's hope to achieve a Tree Trade Agreement of the Americas by 2005 faces multiple hurdles. The presidents of Brazil, Venezuela, and Argentina are wary of an American-led free trade zone, arguing that their countries' prior...

Bush's Proposal for Immigration Reform Misses the Point

Andres Oppenheimer January 8, 2004
A day after US President George W. Bush announced proposed changes to US immigration policy, some are saying the changes do not go deep enough. If it meets with approval from the US Congress, Bush's proposal would grant identity cards to millions of illegal workers and allow them to continue to work legally for three years. The plans were announced just one week before Bush meets with the...

New Scrutiny of Visitors Begins Smoothly

Alfonso Chardy January 6, 2004
In a sweeping change to the way visitors to the US are tracked, the recently established Department of Homeland Security has begun fingerprinting and photographing people from all but 27 countries upon entry at US airports and seaports. As the latest step in the US government's war on terror, the move is intended to help weed out visitors with connections to terrorist groups or criminal...