In The News

A Lobby, Not a Conspiracy

Tony Judt April 20, 2006
Some international critics suggest that Israel wields too much influence when it comes to US foreign policy. An essay assessing Israel-as-lobbyist, published in March by the “London Review of Books,” has unleashed raucous debate about the nature and purpose of the US-Israel relationship. The essay makes two claims: first, that uncritical support of Israel does not always serve US interests and...

Anti-Christian Extremism Attacked

United Press International April 19, 2006
Newspapers in the Arab world have weighed in on recent attacks against Christian churches in Alexandria, addressing issues of extremism’s threat to Egyptian society. To overcome the forces of ignorance, hatred and sectarian sedition, leading newspapers call for concerted action on the part of government, religious and civil institutions to unify citizens against extremism that could lead to a “...

A US Attack of Iran Will Break NATO in Pieces

Frank Biancheri April 18, 2006
Even a world superpower can use a few allies. European nations, long stalwart friends of the US, express alarm that the Bush administration could consider attacking Iran without extensive diplomacy, consultation with allies, and reasoned responses such as revision of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Any attack on Iran would fracture NATO and isolate the US from its traditional allies, argues...

Iran’s Nukes in a Power Game

Ehsan Ahrari April 6, 2006
World leaders disagree about how to control Iran’s nuclear program. With respect to Iran’s steadfast dedication to preserving its uranium-enrichment program, the US and the EU-3 countries are upfront – they want to halt Iran before the program advances any further. China and Russia agree that Iran should not acquire nuclear weapons, but disagree with the US and Europe about how to contain Iran....

Afghanistan: The Long Road Ahead

Richard Holbrooke April 3, 2006
Plotting attacks against US, NATO and Afghan forces, US enemies in the war on terror continue to make Afghanistan a source of conflict. Unspoken publicly, but increasingly obvious, is that the US presence will be required in Afghanistan for years, probably long after troops leave Iraq, according to Richard Holbrooke, former US ambassador to the UN. Afghanistan’s border areas are particularly...

In Khartoum, the Refrain of Arab Failure

Rami G. Khouri March 31, 2006
The Arab League summit in Khartoum, poorly attended by Arab leaders, coincided with the revolt of several hundred workers in Dubai – and the two events expose problems in the Arab world. The workers, primarily from South Asia for construction projects, protested poor working and living conditions, low and delayed pay, as well as a general lack of basic rights. The leaders in Khartoum and...

Free Trade, Minus the Warmth and the Longing

Maria Golia March 28, 2006
Egyptian businessmen once anticipated the free-trade agreement (FTA) with the US as an opportunity to decentralize and privatize the economy. However, the Egyptian cabinet already embraces entrepreneurship and reform, and with FTA negotiations failing, the agreement increasingly seems redundant. This has resulted in high-level disagreements between the Egyptian and US governments, thus rendering...