Month: December 2005

Nuclear Clouds Gather
Over Asia

NEW DELHI – The Asia-Pacific region has not only emerged as one of the main engines of the world economy, it has also taken the global center stage in developments pertaining to nuclear weapons and efforts to acquire a capability to make them. From Iran and Israel in West Asia, through India and Pakistan in … Continue reading “Nuclear Clouds Gather
Over Asia”

N. Korean Reform Rollback May Bolster Bush Hardliners

Growing indications that North Korea’s central government is reasserting its control over the national economy may be strengthening hardliners in the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush who have long favored a policy of "regime change" in Pyongyang. In recent months, the government of Leader Kim Jong Il has reportedly revived rationing and rolled … Continue reading “N. Korean Reform Rollback May Bolster Bush Hardliners”

Troubles Yet to Come

At the end of 2004, omens for the following year in the Balkans were bad. Spurred by the U.S. presidential campaign, the March pogrom of Serbs in Kosovo, and the increasingly abundant signs that the short, victorious war in Iraq was neither, the Empire turned its eye back to its Balkans "success" story. The triumph … Continue reading “Troubles Yet to Come”

Nour Case Strains US-Egypt Ties

U.S. government officials, foreign policy experts, newspaper editorial writers, and human rights advocates were virtually unanimous in condemning the sentencing last week of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s chief political opponent to a five-year prison term, but divided on what can be done about it. The White House and the State Department issued statements saying they … Continue reading “Nour Case Strains US-Egypt Ties”

NSA Spied on Diplomats in Push for Iraq War

Despite all the news accounts and punditry since the New York Times published its Dec. 16 bombshell about the National Security Agency’s domestic spying, the media coverage has made virtually no mention of the fact that the Bush administration used the NSA to spy on UN diplomats in New York before the invasion of Iraq. … Continue reading “NSA Spied on Diplomats in Push for Iraq War”

Nuking Iran With
the UN’s Blessing

In the “global war on terror,” Iran is the next target, having been designated by the U.S. State Department [.pdf] as “the most active state sponsor of terrorism” in the world. The United Nations has given its blessing, and the U.S. will fill in the blanks. Before we analyze this, however, let us ask ourselves: … Continue reading “Nuking Iran With
the UN’s Blessing”

US-Shi’ite Struggle Could Spin Out of Control

The George W. Bush administration has embarked on a new effort to pressure Iraq’s militant Shi’ite party leaders to give up their control over internal security affairs that could lead the Shi’ites to reconsider their reliance on U.S. troops. The looming confrontation is the result of U.S. concerns about the takeover of the Interior Ministry … Continue reading “US-Shi’ite Struggle Could Spin Out of Control”

Question the PATRIOT Act Now – Before It’s Too Late

Recent revelations that the National Security Agency has conducted broad surveillance of American citizens’ e-mails and phone calls raise serious questions about the proper role of government in a free society. This is an important and healthy debate, one that too often goes ignored by Congress. Public concerns about the misnamed PATRIOT Act are having … Continue reading “Question the PATRIOT Act Now – Before It’s Too Late”

ElBaradei Isn’t Perfect

In October, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced that the Peace Prize for 2005 was to be shared, in two equal parts, between the International Atomic Energy Agency and its director-general, Mohamed ElBaradei, “for their efforts to prevent nuclear energy from being used for military purposes and to ensure that nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is … Continue reading “ElBaradei Isn’t Perfect”