In The News

Divided over War

January 22, 2003
It appears that American unilateralism may rear its head again. In its coverage of the conflict with Iraq, the UK's Economist magazine says "As a massive military build-up continues in the Gulf, France and Germany say they cannot support American military action to topple Saddam Hussein. Russia says it believes the decision to attack Iraq has already been made." France is hinting...

Globalization and the Middle East: Part Two

Frank Griffel January 21, 2003
Far from being anathema to Islamic societies of the Middle East, globalization has strengthened Islamic fundamentalism in the region by facilitating extensive networks of formerly dissociated Muslims - so says Yale Islamic Studies professor Frank Griffel, in the second half of this series on globalization and the Middle East. "A close look into the Islamic world reveals that it does indeed...

Ready for a Fight

January 17, 2003
As the world's attention focuses once again on Iraq, U.N. Chief Weapons Inspector, Hans Blix, expressed concern over a discovery yesterday of chemical warheads that were ready for use. He did not, however, see these as a necessary catalyst for war. So far, European and American officials have agreed. The discovery does put Hussein more on the defensive, sparking him to angrily denounce...

Globalization and the Middle East: Part One

Barry Rubin January 16, 2003
Globalization has been heralded both as the savior and the damnation of the world. Especially the attitude of Islamic countries towards all that globalization brings has been a matter of intense debate. In the first of two-part series, Middle East scholar Barry Rubin argues that unlike regions like Latin America or East Asia the Islamic nations of the Middle East have responded negatively to...

The Northern Front

William Safire January 16, 2003
A quiet military alliance between Turks, Americans and Israelis has been an important force for regional stability in the Middle East over the last decade. However, in part due to the growth of democracy in Turkey, there is now uncertainty as to the loyalty of the Turks to the alliance, especially when it comes to discussions of a Turkish role in a possible US-led coalition against Iraq....

For This Delicacy, Brand Recognition Is a Problem

Neil MacFarquhar January 13, 2003
Although UN sanctions on Iraq ban all exports except crude oil under the oil-for-food program, Iraqi dates, long prized for their delicious flavors and textures, still manage to make their way out of Iraq to other countries. According to this article in the New York Times, Iraqis use creative methods – such as shipping dates on Iranian-flagged ships and attaching phony labels – to reach markets...

Yemen Protests Seizure of North Korean Ship; Says Scuds Were Bound for Its Army

Thom Shanker December 11, 2002
With the US and other world powers on high alert due to the tension in Iraq, arms shipments into and out of the Middle East are an extremely sensitive topic. As reported today in the New York Times, "Yemen said today that Scud missiles found on a North Korean ship were destined for its army, and issued formal protests over the vessel's seizure to the United States and Spain."...