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No money, no play: US on the brink in
Iraq
Three
possible candidates could pick up the
multi-billion dollar tab for the occupation and
reconstruction of Iraq: the Iraqi people
(through their oil), US taxpayers, or donor
countries. As things stand, not one of the
three, nor a combination of them, is likely to
deliver. Which would leave the US with only one
option: get out. - Herbert Docena
The transformation of Donald
Rumsfeld
Known for his
vision of what the US military should look like
as a result of transformation, Secretary of
Defense Donald Rumsfeld is undergoing a change
of his own, especially with regard to the role
of NATO in global security. - Eshan
Ahrari
THE ABDUCTION OF
MODERNITY
Part 6a: Imperialism as
modernity
 Imperialism is the
extension of rule or dominance by one people
over another, and it reached its climax under
the Roman Empire. Neo-imperialism coincided with
the rise of commercial capitalism in the 17th
century, but the cataclysmic events of this
"modern" period were marked at least as much by
barbarism as by progress. - Henry C K
Liu
India offers Arnie a pointer or
two
As Arnold
Schwarzenegger swaps one stage for another in
California, he could do worse than brush up on
the careers of some politicians in India, where
the transition from acting to politics comes
ever so naturally. - Siddharth Srivastava
In
India, you are what you eat
From worm infested chocolate bars to
soft drinks heavy on pesticides, the Indian
government has been forced into action over its
substandard food and drug administration
regulations, and to seek outside
help.
China feels sting of Afghan
opium
While
Afghanistan and Myanmar are the principal
sources of the world's opium crop, many of the
most serious societal problems occur when the
drug leaves their borders, particularly in
Central Asia, and increasingly in China. -
Mark Berniker
Russia
revels in its newfound influence
...
Russian President Vladimir
Putin is wont to place his country on an equal
footing with the United States when it comes to
the ever-changing geopolitical world. This is
wishful thinking, of course, but Putin does have
a few strong cards, such as Iran and oil, for
starters.
...
while Putin talks up his nuclear
arsenal
Russia's Defense
Ministry has issued a document reaffirming its
right to undertake preemptive military strikes,
while President Vladimir Putin has emphasized
the power of Russia's nuclear arsenal -
saber-rattling that has taken some observers by
surprise.
 Proliferation
fears over US, NATO
Pyongyang: Movement under the
radar
As the
world readies for a second round of
six-power talks over the future of North Korea
and its bombs, Kim Jong-il's bellicose movements
have driven three of the concerned powers -
China, Russia and Japan - to set up tents in
Washington's camp. And whether or not Kim
continues with his belligerent hard line, he
could soon find himself out of options. -
Jasper Becker
The decline of the American
presidency
In recent history the world's eyes have
been on the United States, watching to see what
its next move would be. But who's really making
the decisions? According to Phar Kim
Beng, the power of the president may be far
less expansive than we perceive it to
be.
Asia's capital flows - this time it's
different
 Capital is suddenly
flowing back into Asia in volume for the first
time since the onset of the Asian financial
crisis. Are we eventually daring another hot
money cycle? - John Mulcahy (Oct 8,
'03) |
Neo-con
fingerprints on Syria raid
Gushing is
perhaps not quite the word, but US President
George W Bush was certainly positive in his
response to Israel's strike into Syria,
indicating not only that the neo-conservatives
still hold sway over foreign policy issues, but
that they might have found themselves a fresh
target. -
Jim Lobe (Oct
8, '03)
Syria: Odd one out in tough
neighbourhood
Bombed by Israel, flanked by US-occupied
Iraq, threatened by Washington and surrounded by
pro-West neighbors too cowed to support her,
Syria finds itself with its back against the
wall. The next casualty in the war on terrorism?
Iason Athanasiadis reports from Damascus. (Oct 8, '03)
Turkey marches boldly into
Iraq
By
succumbing to US pressure and authorizing the
dispatch of troops into Iraq, Turkey has once
again proven that money talks. But there are
other, bigger benefits that Ankara could reap. -
K Gajendra Singh (Oct 8, '03)
THE ROVING
EYE
Going mobile
Turkish troops will soon be marching
around Iraq, although there has been some
surprise opposition from within the country to
their deployment. Also on the move are a
Kurdish, an Egyptian and a Kuwaiti company,
awarded brand new mobile phone licenses. Or that
is what one is supposed to believe. - Pepe Escobar (Oct 8,
'03)
The
rich world's disappearing
jobs
 Instantaneous communications are making
it possible for almost anybody's job to be done
anywhere, which the United States in particular
is beginning to learn to its sorrow. - John
Berthelsen and Indrajit Basu (Oct 7,
'03)
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