Month: October 2004

NORTHERN GAZA STRIP – The rapidly mounting civilian death toll as a result of Israel’s massive offensive in the north of the Gaza Strip is deepening hatred and may lead to continuing cycles of bloodshed, Palestinian politicians and human rights activists in Gaza say. The number of fatalities has crossed 80 over eight days of … Continue reading “Gaza Offensive Deepening Hatred”

SANA’A, Yemen – The Yemeni government, which has condemned the abduction of journalists and aid workers in Iraq, itself stands accused now of "abducting" journalists and trying to silence them. Abdel-Karim al-Khiwani, chief editor of the daily al-Shoura, was picked up by the "terrorism department" last month and later sentenced by a court to a … Continue reading “Yemen’s Detention of Journalists Provokes a Struggle”

President Clinton inherited the Nunn-Lugar Act mandate to assist Russia – financially and technically – dismantle thousands of excess Soviet nukes, to securely store and to peacefully dispose of the hundreds of tons of excess weapons-grade materials recovered thereby. The rationale for Nunn-Lugar was that it was in our national security interests to help the … Continue reading “Nuclear Bait and Switch”

Some will argue that the events of this week are encouraging cynicism about their leaders among the American public. What is much more striking is the cynicism displayed by the leaders when they were in the midst of selling a policy of invading an internationally-recognized sovereign country that had neither invaded nor threatened its neighbors … Continue reading “Season of Cynicism”

Sidelined by their failed predictions for Iraq and President George W. Bush’s efforts to reassure voters he is not a warmonger, prominent neoconservatives and their Christian Right allies are nonetheless trying hard to prepare the ground for future U.S. adventures in the Middle East. Echoing increasingly threatening noises from the government of Israeli Prime Minister … Continue reading “Sidelined Neocons Stoke Future Fires”

In an interview with al-Arabia television, Iraq’s Washington-backed president said that demanding a referendum for the right of self-determination in the Kurdish North will be regarded as an act of national treason of the Kurds against Iraq and would forcibly be suppressed. Last week, demonstrations were held in several cities in Iraqi Kurdistan organized by … Continue reading “Is Kirkuk About to Explode?”

PRETORIA – Saleh Mahmood Osman chooses his words carefully. The human rights lawyer makes it clear that, although he comes from strife-torn Darfur, he does not bear ill will toward the Sudanese diplomats who have come to listen to his address in the South African capital, Pretoria. Given that Osman was detained by Sudanese officials … Continue reading “Darfur Still Dangerous, Despite Global Pressure”

DUBAI – When conservative Saudi Arabia announced last year that it would hold partial municipal elections in which people for the first time could vote directly, the reaction of many in and out of the country was nothing less than shock. Now reform-minded activists are pushing the envelope even further by announcing that several women … Continue reading “Saudi Democratization to Include Women?”

CARACAS – The Venezuelan army plans to acquire 40 Russian helicopters within the next few months in the first step towards a new "strategic alliance" with Moscow promoted by President Hugo Chávez, who is further marking his distance from Washington. The deal was agreed this week in the Russian capital by Vice President José Vicente … Continue reading “Russia-Venezuela Alliance Takes Flight”

BANGKOK – One of Asia’s most colorful monarchs, Cambodia‘s King Norodom Sihanouk, has plunged his country into a constitutional crisis following Thursday’s announcement that he is abdicating. The 82-year-old king’s decision was revealed on the day he was due back in the country from China, where he has been in self-imposed exile since the beginning … Continue reading “Sihanouk’s Abdication Catches Nation by Surprise”