POLITICS-U.S.: Neo-Conservatism, Hard Core

If hard-core neo-conservatives Richard Perle and David Frum had their way, the Bush administration would be issuing ultimatums on virtually a daily basis.

MIDEAST: Nuclear Spotlight Shifts from Libya to Israel

The attention to WMDs in Libya and Iran has inevitably led to questions about Israel's undeclared arsenal, but there is little indication that it will give up what it has.

MIDEAST: Nuclear Spotlight Shifts from Libya to Israel

The decision last month by Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi to relinquish his weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles will have enhanced the sense among Israeli leaders that their regional strategic position, already improved by the toppling of Saddam Hussein, was far better at the start of 2004 than it had been at the start of the previous year.

MEDIA-U.S.: Iraq Blotted Out Rest of the World in 2003 TV News

AIDS killed three million people around the world last year, more than two million of them in Africa. The three major U.S. television networks' evening news programmes devoted a combined total of 39 minutes to the issue.

MEDIA-U.S.: Iraq Blotted Out Rest of the World in 2003 TV News

AIDS killed three million people around the world last year, more than two million of them in Africa. The three major U.S. television networks' evening news programmes devoted a combined total of 39 minutes to the issue.

POLITICS-ASIA: It’s Testing Time for Islam, Democracy in 2004

If U.S. President George W Bush were to look east from his colonial enterprise in Iraq, he may find lessons to draw from the spirit of democracy due to take hold in the Islamic world this new year.

U.S.-IRAN: One After-Effect Could be Detente

The earthquake that levelled Bam last week appears to have provided an opening for pro-détente forces in both Washington and Teheran.

POLITICS-U.S./IRAN: One After-Effect Could be Detente

The earthquake that levelled Bam last week appears to have provided an opening for pro-détente forces in both Washington and Teheran.

ECONOMY-BRAZIL: Lula’s Policies Staved Off Turmoil in 2003

In 2003, the orthodox economic policies of Brazil's leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva were successful in reducing inflation, stabilising the exchange rate, and balancing the external current accounts.

U.S.: Business Boos Anti-Globalisation Forces – in the White House

If anti-globalisation radicals really want to tear down the world capitalist system they might want to go door-to-door next year on behalf of incumbent U.S. president, George W. Bush.

TRADE: North American Deal Dismal After a Decade

After 10 years a deal that all sides say transformed trade and investment rules in North America has still produced far fewer positive results than originally promised, according to its critics.

POLITICS-U.S.: Whither Cheney?

While the Democratic candidates battle for the presidential nomination in the first half of next year, Republicans will face a difficult choice of their own.

TRADE: North American Deal Dismal After a Decade

After 10 years a deal that all sides say transformed trade and investment rules in North America has still produced far fewer positive results than originally promised, according to its critics.

IRAQ.: Who Needs WMD When You’ve Got Saddam?

With former president Saddam Hussein in the bag, the administration of President George W. Bush appears determined to make U.S. voters forget Washington invaded Iraq on the pretext that its apparently non-existent weapons of mass destruction (WMD) posed a direct threat to the United States and its allies.

/INT’L MIGRANTS DAY/MIGRATION: The Answer Is Social Equality, Not Walls

Walls, electrified barriers, military operations and police presence are not enough to stop the waves of migrants from impoverished countries to rich, industrialised, or at least less poor nations.

ASIA: Lack of International Court Means Happy Days for Dictators

The capture of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein to face justice for the brutality unleashed during his regime should be of little worry to Asia's club of dictators, or those waiting in the shadows to become tomorrow's strongmen.

POLITICS-JAPAN: Iraq Deployment Shows the East German Syndrome

-Four years ago, the author and critic Chalmers Johnson wrote a prescient book about U.S. foreign policy that unfavourably compared Japan's postwar prime ministers to the East German leaders Walter Ulbricht and Erich Honecker.

POLITICS-CYPRUS: Elections Bring a New Impasse

The impasse in parliamentary elections in the Turkish Northern Cyprus deals a setback to hopes for reunification of the island before its entry into the European Union in May next year.

IRAQ: U.S. Takes Custody of Another Wayward Client

At last in U.S. military captivity, ousted former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein will soon mark an important 20th anniversary, the kind of anniversary that brings with it an appreciation of the ironies of life, and politics.
      His captor, Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld, might also recall long-forgotten memories - or memories best forgotten - of what he was doing exactly 20 years ago.

IRAQ: U.S. Takes Custody of Another Wayward Client

At last in U.S. military captivity, ousted former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein will soon mark an important 20th anniversary, the kind of anniversary that brings with it an appreciation of the ironies of life, and politics.

IRAQ: Future Uncertain as Saddam Unearthed

U.S. President George W. Bush celebrated a second victory in Iraq here Sunday with confirmation that occupation forces had captured fugitive former president Saddam Hussein on Saturday evening at a farmhouse outside Tikrit.