In The News

U.S. Is Reported to Kill Al Qaeda Leader in Yemen

James Risen November 5, 2002
American officials claim that they have killed Qaed Salim Sinan al-Harethi, a senior Al Qaeda member who may have had ties to the 2000 bombing of the U.S.S. Cole in Yemen. The American attack was carried out in the Yemeni desert with an unmanned Predator airplane. The attack was also done without the explicit support of the Yemeni government. U.S. officials seem to want to signal to the...

‘Blood Diamonds’ Polished Off

November 5, 2002
After coffee, it’s now turn for diamonds. A worldwide campaign by NGOs brought about a new brand -- Fair-Trade Certified Coffee -- that ensures the coffee beans were bought from growers at fair trade condition. Now a global campaign against the so-called “blood diamond”, the stones mined and smuggled out by armed groups in Africa to finance civil wars or illegal operations, has brought some...

Unmanned Weapon Makes Its Mark in Yemen

Mark Huband November 5, 2002
From caves in Afghanistan to deserts in Yemen, the US-led War against Terrorism has eliminated yet another al-Qaeda member. In the deserts of Yemen, an American unmanned air vehicle, the Predator, launched a Hellfire missile that killed Ali Qaed Sunian al-Harithi, who was believed to have been involved in the attack on the USS Cole in 2000. The 10,000 to 15,000 ft altitude range at which the...

Iran's President Presses for Dialogue in Spain

Camelia Entekhabi-Fard November 5, 2002
Iran's President Khatami recently became the first Iranian leader to visit Spain since the 1979 revolution. The mere fact of his visit was made even more significant by productive dialogue between President Khatami and Spanish leaders on issues of trade, security, Islam, and democracy. Iran is eager to win the respect of European Union countries, especially after President Bush made it...

After NATO's Year of Identity Crisis, a Defining Meeting

Steven Erlanger November 4, 2002
With expansion on the horizon, NATO will meet in November to redefine its purpose in response to the new threats of the twenty-first century. In a world where large-scale conventional defense may become obsolete, many are questioning the ability of NATO to adapt to the changing needs of its allies. Nato was originally founded to counter Soviet expansion during the Cold War. Realists have three...

Controlling Iraq’s Oil: Not So Easy

Serge Schmemann November 3, 2002
Though the countries opposing the war in Iraq may have valid moral or ideological reasons behind their position, they also have trade ties to the country that might be threatened by a war. The US, on the other hand, may have economic interests driving it to push for an invasion of Iraq. America's motivations certainly may include security concerns, but the prospect of gaining a private gas...

Al Jazeera to Take on CNN, BBC in English

November 3, 2002
Though details are not yet cemented, the Al Jazeera satellite television network hopes to offer an English-language channel in late 2003 that will compete with top international news such as CNN and BBC. Already a leading force in Arab-language television, Al Jazeera is globalizing its audience by entering the English language market and publicizing the pro-Arab and pro-Muslim perspective that...