POLITICS-U.S.: Imperial Dreams Sink in Iraqi Quagmire

The coalition of Bush administration hawks that was empowered by the Sep. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and the Pentagon agreed on three main strategic objectives.

POLITICS-INDIA: Even without Top Post, Sonia Gandhi Leaves Her Mark

When Sonia Gandhi led the Congress party to its resounding electoral win this month, she was laying to rest the ghosts of the Nehru-Gandhis - the illustrious political dynasty that not only steered India to independence but fought for democracy, pluralism and religious secularism on the subcontinent.

INDONESIA: Six Presidential Bets a Mix of Secular, Islamic Figures

The six pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates for the Indonesian election in July, revealed on Wednesday, are an interesting mix of secular and Islamic-based politicians.

POLITICS-U.S.: Chickenhawk Groupthink?

In a 1972 book, 'Victims of Groupthink: A Psychology Study of Foreign-Policy Decisions and Fiascoes', Irving Janis identified the Vietnam War and the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba as particularly compelling examples of how very smart people can collectively make very stupid decisions.

POLITICS-INDIA: Opposition Congress Party May Yet Stage a Comeback

After India's mammoth election exercise ended Monday, the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies had little of the confidence that prompted the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to call parliamentary elections six months before completing its five-year term in office.

POLITICS-U.S.: Perhaps Not So Exceptional After All

To understand the impact in the United States of the photos of U.S. military personnel abusing Iraqi prisoners, it is necessary to recall what then-Secretary of State Elihu Root said in 1899, as the country first emerged as a global power in the Spanish-American War.

POLITICS-U.S.: Rummy on the Rocks

With the scandal over the abuse of prisoners in U.S. military custody in Iraq still growing, the administration of President George W Bush appears to be shaken to its very core.

POLITICS-U.S.: Rummy on the Rocks

With the scandal over the abuse of prisoners in U.S. military custody in Iraq still growing, the administration of President George W Bush appears to be shaken to its very core.

MIDEAST: Only the Impasse Gets Stronger

The pattern is familiar. More damage is done every time a proposal to take the Middle East towards peace collapses. Every step that leads nowhere is a step backward.

MIDEAST: Only the Impasse Gets Stronger

The summer session of Israel's parliament started this week with the opposition gleefully lambasting the ruling Likud party that had rejected its own Prime Minister's plan for a withdrawal from the Gaza strip and parts of the West Bank.

DEVELOPMENT: Aid Is Not Providing the Necessary Help

Developed countries are proposing new aid instruments without honouring earlier commitments, aid experts say.

EUROPEAN UNION: The World’s New Leading Economic Power

Even the most far-sighted observers probably did not imagine in 1952, when six countries created the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), that the treaty would be the embryo of a bloc that is becoming the world's leading economic power, even slightly surpassing the size of the U.S. economy.

EUROPEAN UNION: The World’s New Leading Economic Power

Even the most far-sighted observers probably did not imagine in 1952, when six countries created the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), that the treaty would be the embryo of a bloc that is becoming the world's leading economic power, even slightly surpassing the size of the U.S. economy.

IRAQ: U.S. On the Brink

One year after President George W Bush declared the end of major combat in Iraq, the United States appears to be teetering on the brink of strategic defeat in its Mesopotamian adventure.

POLITICS-US: Congress Ignores ‘Dirty War’ Past of New Iraq Envoy

John Negroponte, the Bush administration's nominee to become Washington's first ambassador to Iraq since last year's invasion, was talking about how much ''sovereignty'' the country's new government will enjoy after Jun. 30, when U.S. military forces will remain in control of security.

THAILAND: Excessive Force May Produce More Muslim ‘Martyrs’

If the U.S. government can use excessive force in its conquest of Iraq, and the Israeli government can use the same to crush the resistance in occupied Palestine, then why shouldn't the Thai government resort to this to suppress militants in the country's south?

THAILAND: Excessive Force May Produce More Muslim ‘Martyrs’

If the U.S. government can use excessive force in its conquest of Iraq, and the Israeli government can use the same to crush the resistance in occupied Palestine, then why shouldn't the Thai government resort to this to suppress militants in the country's south?

POLITICS: U.N. Ambivalent Over its Ability to Salvage Iraq

As violence continues to escalate in Iraq, killing dozens of soldiers and hundreds of civilians, the United Nations remains ambivalent about its own ability to help salvage a country on the brink of disaster.

POLITICS: U.N. Ambivalent Over its Ability to Salvage Iraq

As violence continues to escalate in Iraq, killing dozens of soldiers and hundreds of civilians, the United Nations remains ambivalent about its own ability to help salvage a country on the brink of disaster.

POLITICS-BURMA: Conflict at Top Levels Puts Reforms in Doubt

Burma's 'national reconciliation' process or road map to democracy is in deep trouble, and the much expected release of the pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest has now become an increasingly dim hope.

DEVELOPMENT: IMF, Bank Wrongly Take Credit for Poverty Drop

Global poverty has declined over the past 20 years but the successes are not in countries that have closely followed the advice of the World Bank and its sister institution the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a new study shows.