Policy Analysis

In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, many academics and policymakers cite America's support for United Nations sanctions on Iraq, and the oft-reported figure of one million resulting deaths, as a legitimate grievance against Washington's foreign policy. However, the facts upon which these critics make their case do

Since September 11, the Bush administration has issued seven different lists of terrorist groups, including terrorist organizations, front companies, and individuals. In its effort to prosecute the war on terrorism, the administration has articulated the goal of eradicating Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda terrorist network and its Taliban hosts rather

In Washington, the debate over Iraq is shifting from the simple question of whether it should be targeted in phase II of the antiterror war, to how we should deal with a country that continually refuses to fulfill its UN obligations and surrender weapons of mass destruction (WMD). From the

Testimony before the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom To win the war against terrorism, the U.S. government will need to pursue with equal vigor the short-term imperative to eradicate terrorist groups and their international support networks and the longer-term objective to advance a positive vision for the peoples

Secretary Powell's November 19 speech did not introduce any new substantive points into the debate. However, it outlined for the first time the Bush administration's view regarding the situation in the Middle East. It also offered some important symbolic points that could provide Yasir Arafat a means of ending the

Secretary of State Colin Powell's November 19 Louisville address on the Arab-Israeli peace process was important as much for what it did not say as what it did say. Indeed, the sole innovation in the speech was the appointment of a new "senior advisor"—retired Marine General Anthony Zinni—to "prod and

Kabul has fallen and the Taliban has collapsed. The Bush administration has demonstrated that it has the might and political willpower to pursue the war against terrorists and their sponsors. Well, some of them. According to the most recent State Department "Patterns of Global Terrorism" report, Iran is "the most

In his long-anticipated speech on the Middle East yesterday, Secretary of State Colin Powell reminded both Arabs and Israelis of certain basic realities: that there can be no peace without unequivocal recognition of Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state within secure borders; that Israel is entitled to security

The Bush administration came to office, seeking to stay as far clear of the Mideast peace process as possible. Who could blame them? President Bill Clinton invested an extraordinary amount of time and energy in a bid for a far-reaching grand deal -- a comprehensive peace treaty between Israel and

The events of September 11 have underscored the connection between two parallel wars: one pits the United States against terrorism, while the other is the battle between Israel and its terrorist foes. No one is more interested in the success of America's new war than Israel. Israel has no intention

The Middle East Studies Association of North America convenes Saturday in San Francisco. Its membership includes 2,600 "experts" on the Middle East, most of them based in universities. On Sept. 21, MESA's board issued a statement on the terror attacks against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. It encapsulates

Since the 1970s, nearly every European country has been afflicted by terrorism. The majority of these acts, however, were homegrown and warranted a domestic response rather than an international one. International connections did exist, but they were peripheral rather than central to the enterprise. When acts of international terrorism were

Secretary of State Colin Powell is planning to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi at the United Nations on Monday. This comes soon after six senators feted Iran's U.N. ambassador at the Capitol. These overtures are a bad idea and could not come at a worse time. The Islamic

When the U.N. General Assembly session begins tomorrow, Secretary of State Colin Powell and foreign ministers from Russia and Afghanistan's neighbors will meet to discuss the war on terrorism. All eyes will be on whether Mr. Powell meets his Iranian counterpart, Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi. The State Department has argued

On October 30, Iranian parliamentarian Elaheh Kula'i appeared before the Majlis and warned that a reluctance to implement UN resolutions regarding terrorism could result in "consequences" for the Islamic republic. Kula'i was specifically referring to UN Security Council Resolution (UNSC) 1373, which outlines the financial and legal measures that UN

Ramadan, the holiest month of the Islamic calendar, will begin on November 16. Some in the United States and abroad have suggested that a moratorium in military operations would be appropriate. Others see no reason to stop. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has stated that "history is replete with instances where

Despite the current tense situation, there has been no change in the fundamentals of the Israel-U.S. relationship. Israel understands the unique character of the relationship and will do what it can to accommodate vital U.S. needs. If post-September 11, the United States needs Israel to maintain a lower profile, so

There are three basic elements of an integrated public diplomacy campaign -- media, education, and exchange. More needs to be done in each arena. But before the government falls prey to the appeal of waging "information warfare" via the airwaves as the main way to complement the military campaign now

The appearance of senior U.S. officials on the Qatari-based al-Jazeera satellite news channel is the first sign that Washington is taking seriously the need for enhanced "public diplomacy" as a vital component in the war against terrorism. In this arena, however, urgency needs to be tempered with realism. Rushing to

Arafat does not have a designated successor, and none of the contenders for his mantle will be able to take over all of his functions and responsibilities. The Palestinian Authority (PA) revolves around Arafat and his leadership style; thus, in the immediate wake of his death, the PA will malfunction