| November 2005
Foreign Policy | Arms Control | Defense | Diplomacy |
Intelligence | Terrorism | United Nations
Countries/Regions: Afghanistan | Africa | Balkans | Iran | Iraq | Kosovo | Middle East | Palestine | Russia | South Africa | Ukraine
A1 - A Case for "Integration"
Haass, Richard N.
The National Interest, Fall 2005, #81, pp22-30
“Haass discusses the need to promulgate a viable doctrine that
will serve as a guiding principle in which policymakers navigate
and define strategies and determine priorities involving US foreign
policies and national security measures.” The author argues that
after the Cold War no coherent foreign policy doctrine was articulated
by the subsequent administrations. The current administration’s
objective of promoting democracy proves to be impractical and
insufficient as a foreign policy doctrine. Instead, Haass argues
for a long-term, integrative and consent-based approach. “As an
intellectual framework, this doctrine will aid in shaping decisions
affecting long-term investments in military forces, assistance
programs and intelligence and diplomatic assets.” Richard
N. Haass is president of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Fulltext
A2 - Cleaning House
Bain, Ben
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Proliferation
Analysis, October 13, 2005
“The US government program to prevent nuclear materials from vanishing
from insecure facilities into the hands of terrorists has scored
several striking successes but is still far from accomplishing
its goals. The Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) has securely
repatriated 122kg of highly-enriched uranium to Russia in eight
operations, including a recent dramatic midnight airlift from
Prague. The GTRI mission is of the highest importance, yet recent
studies conclude that progress is dangerously slow.” This analysis
outlines the threat, the plan of action, the achievements, and
the challenges ahead. The articles also features links to websites
and reports related to the issue. Ben Bain is currently a
Junior Fellow at the Non-Proliferation Policy Program at the Carnegie
Endowment for International Peace. Fulltext
A3 - Lessons Lost
Cirincione, Josepf Joseph
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, November/December 2005,
v61, #6, pp42-53
The United States is at a crossroads regarding its nuclear policy.
What direction should a viable policy take? In this analysis,
Cirincione outlines the historical debate in the United States
regarding the country’s nuclear policy. From the 1940s until today
the discussion has been whether to build up the arsenal of atomic
bombs to achieve a nuclear advantage over other nuclear powers
or to choose the path of downsizing, restraint and international
cooperation. Today’s policies, given the risk of a terrorist attack
involving nuclear material Cirincione argues for the prevention
of the spread of nuclear weapons-use material as a core element
of U.S. nuclear policy. The article contains an extensive bibliography.
Joseph Cirincione is director for Non-Proliferation at the
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Fulltext
A4 - Recommendations for the Nuclear Weapons Complex of the
Future. Report of the Nuclear Weapons Complex Infrastructure Task
Force. Final Report
U.S. Department of Energy, Secretary of Energy Advisory Board,
July 13, 2005, 123p.
“With the end of the Cold War, the United States ended programs
to develop and produce new nuclear warheads and shifted to sustaining
existing warheads for the indefinite future.” The Task Force recommends
the following actions: development of Reliable Replacement Warhead
(RRW) to redesign cold-war stockpiles in order to obtain a sustainable
stockpile of the future, building of a state-of-the-art nuclear
production facility, consolidation of Special Nuclear Materials,
and dismantlement of the cold war weapons stockpile. Fulltext
A5 - Congress Should Back Bush Administration Plans to Update
Nuclear Weapons Policy and Forces
Spring, Baker
Heritage Foundation, Backgrounder #1890, October 28, 2005,
online edition
The U.S. is working on a new doctrine regarding U.S. nuclear and
strategic forces. While the DOD is progressing to implement measures
based on the Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) from 2002, which outlines
post-cold war policy for U.S.’ nuclear and strategic forces, Congress’
support has been inconsistent in this matter. In this 15 page
study the author discusses in detail the legislative steps the
U.S. Congress should take to provide the necessary tools for the
military to transform the nation's strategic forces. "...Members
of Congress need to understand that the current nuclear arsenal
and its supporting infrastructure remain products of the Cold
War and are not capable of reassuring U.S. friends and allies,
dissuading strategic competitors, deterring aggression, and defeating
the enemies of the U.S.—goals spelled out in the NPR." Baker
Spring is F. M. Kirby Research Fellow in National Security Policy
in the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for International
Studies at The Heritage Foundation. Fulltext
A6 - Public Affairs and Information Operations: A Strategy
for Success
Sholtis, Tadd
Air and Space Power Journal. Fall 2005, vol. 19, #3, 11p
This article analyzes – from the U.S. Air Force’s point of view
– the necessity of restructuring the military’s public information
strategies to remain credible to the public. The author “…notes
that commanders are looking for better ways to use the global
information environment to win the hearts and minds of Muslim
populations and retain the goodwill of traditional allies. Their
efforts occur against a backdrop of individuals who advocate the
integration of public affairs (PA) and information operations
(IO) and those who argue for their separation.” Major Tadd
Sholtis is assigned to the Resources and Readiness Division of
the Secretary of the Air Force Office of Public Affairs at the
Pentagon. Fulltext
DIPLOMACY
A7 - Public Diplomacy: Lessons from King and Mandela
Wolf, Charles Jr & Brian Rosen.
Policy Review, October & November 2005, pp63-80
“America has an image problem…[which] is especially acute in the
Middle East and among predominantly Muslim populations. Recent
polls highlight the depth and breadth of the animus.”, constitute
the authors Wolf and Rosen. Comparing the speeches and works of
Martin Luther King jr. and Nelson Mandela, the authors contrast
two approaches to public diplomacy in the Middle East. In persuading
foreign publics that America’s values are humanly universal, American
public diplomacy could embrace a broad constituency (King) or
try to focus on and mobilize the core audience by hostile depiction
of the enemy (Mandela). The authors analyze both strategies and
extrapolate tactics for a comprehensive U.S. public diplomacy
effort. Charles Wolf Jr. is senior economic adviser and corporate
fellow in international economics at the Rand Corporation and
a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. Brian Rosen is a doctoral
fellow at the Pardee Rand graduate school and an attorney.
Fulltext
A8 - Cultural Diplomacy: The Linchpin of Public Diplomacy
Advisory Committee on Cultural Diplomacy. U.S. Department
of State. September 2005, 30p
”Authorized by Congress and appointed in March 2004, the Advisory
Committee on Cultural Diplomacy was charged with advising the
Secretary of State on programs and policies to advance the use
of cultural diplomacy in U.S. foreign policy.”
”The Committee's report synthesizes the findings of several academic
studies, independent task forces, and commissions and committees
on public and cultural diplomacy. It incorporates insights gleaned
by the Advisory Committee on a 2004 fact-finding mission to Oman,
Egypt, and the United Kingdom, and from interviews with artists,
choreographers, cultural activists, educators, film makers, theater
directors, and writers in the U.S. and abroad. It also draws from
discussions with American diplomats, State Department program
officers, foreign officials, and journalists.” Fulltext
A9 - The National Intelligence Strategy of the United States
of America:
Transformation through Integration and Innovation
Office of the Director of the National Intelligence, October
2005, online edition, 32p
”In the foreword of this publicly available document, the Director
of National Intelligence, John Negroponte, writes that this National
Intelligence Strategy capitalizes on the talents and patriotism
of America's diverse intelligence professionals and relies on
the U.S. tradition of teamwork and technological innovation. A
strategy, he observes, is a statement of fundamental values, highest
priorities, and orientation toward the future, but it is an action
document as well… Key mission objectives are described.”
Fulltext
A10 - Global Jihad: Does a Terrorist Movement Threaten the
West?
Katel, Peter
CQ Researcher, October 14, 2005, v15, #36, pp850-880
"President Bush declared in early October that the war in
Iraq is a key front in the war with terrorist jihadists. But the
president's critics insist that the war actually serves as a recruiting
tool for jihadists. Since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that made
Osama bin Laden and the al Qaeda terrorist organization notorious
— and celebrated — worldwide, jihadists have struck more than
107 times in more than a dozen countries — a figure that doesn't
include hundreds of attacks on civilians and American soldiers
in Iraq. The global terror offensive points to the existence of
a unifying jihadist ideology. But much is unknown about the terrorists.
Are their goals political or strictly religious? Do they operate
under a unified command or through a loose network of organizations
and cells? Meanwhile, evidence is mounting that al Qaeda remains
strong enough to have played a role in the subway and bus bombings
in London on July 7." Peter Katel is a "CQ Researcher"
staff writer. Order
Article
A11 - Fighting the War of Ideas
Baran, Zeyno
Foreign Affairs, November/December 2005,v84,#6, pp68-78,
“The article presents an essay on the U.S. regulation of Islamist
groups that espouse radical ideologies. Proponents of one radical
Islamic ideology are committed to replacing the current world
order with an Islamic state. There are organizations, such as
Hizb ut-Tahrir (HT), devoted to indoctrinating individuals with
radical ideology. These individuals are often then recruited by
terrorist organizations such as al Qaeda. HT focuses on uniting
all Muslims under the Islamist banner... Regulating HT's activities
without sacrificing the values such as freedom of speech and freedom
of religion poses a challenge to liberal democracies.” Zeyno
Baran is Director of the International Security and Energy Programs
at the Nixon Center, in Washington, D.C. Fulltext
A12 - Contending Cultures of Counterterrorism: Transatlantic
Divergence or Convergence?
Rees, Wyn; Aldrich, Richard J.
International Affairs, October 2005, v81, #5, pp905-923
"Terrorist attacks on the United States, Spain and the United
Kingdom have underlined the differing responses of Europe and
the United States to the 'new terrorism'. This article analyses
these responses through the prism of historically determined strategic
cultures. For the last four years the United States has directed
the full resources of a 'national security' approach towards this
threat and has emphasized unilateralism. Europe, based on its
own past experience of terrorism, has adopted a regulatory approach
pursued through multilateralism. These divergences in transatlantic
approaches, with potentially major implications for the future
of the relationship, have appeared to be mitigated by a revised
American strategy of counterterrorism that has emerged during
2005. However, this article contends that while strategic doctrines
may change, the more immutable nature of strategic culture will
make convergence difficult. This problem will be compounded by
the fact that neither Europe nor America have yet addressed the
deeper connections between terrorism and the process of globalization."
Wyn Rees is Reader in International Relations at the University
of Nottingham. Richard J. Aldrich is Professor of Politics at
the same university. Order
Article
A13 - The UN at 60
Michalak, Stanley
Foreign Policy Research Institute Online, October 19, 2005,
E-Notes, online edition
The author analyses the status of the United Nations at its sixtieth
anniversary within the world peace process and reviews the role
of the United States in the U.N. in the past and the possibilities
in the future. Based on the notion that the U.N. ultimately needs
the leadership of its member states the author contrasts the U.S.,
European, Chinese and Russian approaches to international diplomacy
in the U.N. arena and their effects on the international community.
Michalak calls for all members of the Security Council to find
ways to work together at strengthening the U.N. Stanley Michalak
is John C. Kunkel Professor of Government, emeritus at Franklin
Marshall College and an FPRI Senior Fellow. Fulltext
A14 - The Perils of UN Reform
Schlesinger, Stephen; Kornbluh, Peer
The Nation, October 10, 2005, v281, # 11, p.6+
The U.N. needs reform – but how can it be done?. Schlesinger’s
account of developments at the U.N. over the past year gives an
insight into the difficulties of transforming the organization.
The author cautions not to be disappointed by the outcome of the
recent World Summit on U.N. reform. Changes at the U.N. have always
been occurring albeit incrementally. Stephen Schlesinger is
the director of the World Policy Institute at the New School.
Fulltext
A15 - United Nations Reform and Human Rights
Tomasi, Silvano M
America, September 12, 2005, v193, # 6, pp16-18
The universal application of human rights is one of the core objectives
on the U.N. agenda. As the U.N. undergoes a reform process, Tomasi,
calls for an even stronger human rights commitment in the U.N,
This commitment should be “permeate the whole structure of the
U.N. system“. Furthermore, the author would like to see a stronger
role for the U.N. in the coordination of states’ actions and international
governance. Archbishop Silvano M. Thomasi Tomasi is apostolic
nuntio and permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations
Office and the International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland.
Fulltext
Countries/Regions:
A16 - The U.S. Experience with Provincial Reconstruction Teams
in Afghanistan.
Lessons Identified
Perito, Rober M.
United States Institute of Peace, Special Report 152
"This report is the product of the United States Institute
of Peace’s Afghanistan Experience Project. It is based on extensive
interviews conducted with American and foreign officials, soldiers,
and representatives of nongovernmental organizations that worked
directly with Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Afghanistan.
It also reflects interviews conducted with a broad range of contacts
during the author’s visit to Afghanistan in June 2005. The report
discusses lessons identified by those who served in Afghanistan.
It is intended as a training aid for developing programs that
prepare American personnel for service in peace and stability
operations. " Robert M. Perito, Coordinator of the Afghanistan
Experience Project at the U.S. Institute of Peace, prepared this
report. The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training conducted
the interviews under a contract with the Institute. Fulltext
A17 - How to Rebuild Africa
Stephen Ellis
Foreign Affairs, Sep-Oct 2005, v84, #5, pp135-148
"Past attempts to fix failed states in Africa have gone nowhere
for similar reasons: they have tried to restore good governance
to places that have never enjoyed it in the first place. A radical
rethinking is needed; in the hardest cases, international trusteeships
offer the best chance for success." “Liberia is just one
example on a long list of African states that have spent years
on the brink of collapse (or have long since succumbed) despite
international efforts to help them. Together, these countries
(the list also includes Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic
of the Congo, and Somalia) point to a stark truth: the conventional
approach for helping Africa's failed and failing states does not
work. Part of the problem involves the way that the international
community understands failed states in the first place… [A] better
approach to dysfunctional states in Africa would begin with a
diagnosis that takes full account of their individual characters
and does not assume that the same therapy will work on all of
them.” Stephen Ellis is a researcher at the African Studies
Centre in Leiden, the Netherlands, and the former Director of
the Africa Program at the International Crisis Group. Fulltext
A18 - The Balkans Ten Years After: From Dayton to the Edge
of Democracy
Cohen, Lenard J.
Current History, November 2005, v104 # 685, pp365-373
"Today, a decade after the Dayton agreement and five years
after the fall of Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic (who paradoxically
was one of the chief protagonists of the Bosnian war but also
one of Dayton’s co-designers and ostensible guarantors), progress
is being made in the region’s overall stability and democratic
development. And the role of both Europe and the United States
in Balkan affairs has changed dramatically”. Lenard J. Cohen
is a professor of political science at Simon Fraser University
in British Columbia, Canada. Fulltext
A19 - Iranian Beliefs and Realities
Kupchan, Clifford
National Interest, Fall 2005, #81, pp106-110
“The spines of Western leaders shivered following the election
of Tehran's mayor, hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, as Iran's next
president. And for good reason… The election stunned and alarmed
the West, which had counted on the more pragmatic "wheeler-dealer"
Hashemi Rafsanjani to win and invigorate negotiations with the
West over Iran's nuclear program. In response, U.S. policy has
already stiffened. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has commented
disparagingly on Ahmadinejad's track record, while the Europeans
are gloomy about the future of negotiations on the nuclear issue,
as no compromise is in sight.” This article analyzes the Iranian
beliefs and the political and economic realities in Iran. In light
of the recent election outcome in Iran, Kupchan analyzes Iranian
political believes and realties especially regarding the recent
disagreements with the U.S.. Discussions with members of Iran’s
political and academic provide the background of this analysis.
Kupchan concludes with implications for the Bush Administration’s
policy towards Iran. Clifford Kupchan is a research director
at the Eurasia Group and a former official at the State Department. Fulltext
A20 - Strategies for Promoting Democracy in Iraq
Davis, Eric
United States Institute of Peace, Special Report 153,
October 2005
What does it take for a society to transform their system of government
from a totalitarian regime into a democracy? In Iraq, Davis argues,
there is a lot of potential. Giving an overview of the prerequisites
for a democratic society, the author focuses on Iraqi history
to illustrate the society’s aptness for democratic rule. The author
suggest an Iraqi Democratic Historical Memory Project to foster
the indigenous democratic tradition and its spread throughout
society. Furthermore he outlines an institutional setup drawing
on original Iraqi institutions in order to foster the underpinnings
of a democratic Iraq, which are civic values, a literate citizenry,
access to information regarding the government and the judicial
system and the promotion of cultural identity. Eric Davis
is professor of political science at Rutgers University, and former
director of its Center for Middle Eastern Studies. Fulltext
A21 - Is Political Consensus Possible in Iraq?
Brown, Nathan
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Policy Outlook
#23, November 2005, online edition, 9p
The approval of the Iraqi constitution on October 15 marked the
first step in crafting the country's political structure. However,
it also exposed the depth of the domestic divisions through the
lopsided (and almost exclusively ethnic and sectarian) voting
trends in which Shii and Kurdish areas almost unanimously approved
the draft while Sunni areas rejected it by overwhelming margins.
American officials have become very explicit that their strategy
for political reconstruction in Iraq hinges on the viability of
a “political process” that attracts the involvement and support
of major groups in Iraqi society. In a new Policy Outlook, Is
Political Consensus Possible in Iraq?, Senior Associate Nathan
Brown examines the four most critical elements of that process--elections,
legislation, constitutional revision, and building federalism--and
shows how they are just as likely to engender conflict as consensus.
He provides a set of clear benchmarks for measuring the success
of the effort to build a more consensual political system.
Nathan Brown is is a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment
for International Peace. Fulltext
A22 - Independence for Kosovo
Kupchan, Charles A.
Foreign Affairs, November/December 2005, v84, #6, pp14-20
"Given the atrocities they have suffered in the past and
the autonomy they are enjoying now, Kosovo's Albanians will never
accept continued Serbian sovereignty. The time has come to give
them what they want -- independence." Charles A. Kupchan
is Professor of International Affairs at Georgetown University
and Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. Fulltext
A23 - Toward a Virtual Caliphate
Mandaville, Peter
YaleGlobal, 27 October 2005
"What does globalization mean for the politics of authority
in the Islamic world? Talk of transnational Islamic movements
challenging the status quo of Muslim nation-states often brings
to mind the destructive extremism of al-Qaida. Peter Mandaville,
however, reports that transnational networks of religious scholars
– led by figures such as Qatar-based Yusuf al-Qaradawi – have
sought in recent years to argue for a moderate, yet Islamically-authentic,
alternative to al-Qaida's extreme radicalism." Peter
Mandaville, Director of the Center for Global Studies and Associate
Professor of Government & Politics at George Mason University. Fulltext
A24 - Killing with Kindness: Funding the Demise of a Palestinian
State
Le More, Anne
International Affairs, October 2005, v81, #5, pp981-999
"This article sets out to show the widening gulf that has
emerged between the international community's professed diplomatic
endgame to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict following
a two-state paradigm, the aid strategy it has put forward since
1993 in support of this political goal, and the developments on
the ground in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Within the context of a volatile Oslo peace process and the intifada,
aid to the Palestinians has mainly been used as a substitute for
international political will and to compensate for the lack of
genuine bilateral negotiations between the parties. Aid, however,
cannot buy peace. Not only has the international community's 'aid
for peace' strategy failed to attain its stated political and
socio-economic objectives, but it is also the central contention
of this article that such international intervention has actually
been harmful...Looking ahead, despite the widespread current optimism
generated by Gaza disengagement, this does not bode well for the
emergence of a viable Palestinian state or the individual and
collective security of the Israeli and Palestinian people."
Anne Le More is completing her PhD in International Relations
at Nuffield College, Oxford. Order
Article
A25 - What To Do About Russia
McFaul, Michael A.; Goldgeier, James
Policy Review, October-November 2005, # 133, 16p
The authors argue for a new American policy toward Russia. "The
United States should pursue 'a more ambitious bilateral relationship
in conjunction with a more long-term strategy for strengthening
Russian civil, political, and economic societies, which ultimately
will be the critical forces that push Russia back onto a democratizing
path.'” McFaul is an expert in Russia and Eurasia, U.S.-Russia
relations, U.S. foreign policy, NATO expansion, foreign and humanitarian
aid, democracy, human rights, and non-governmental actors. James
Goldgeier is Professor of Political Science and International
Affairs at George Washington University. Fulltext
A26 - Mbeki's South Africa
Herbst, Jeffrey
Foreign Affairs, November/December 2005, v84, # 6, pp93-105
"Despite remarkable progress since the end of apartheid,
South Africa today is badly wracked by AIDS and severe wealth
inequalities, with a leadership still fixated on racial struggle.
After more than a decade in power, the ANC has yet to reconcile
its various ambitions: curbing racism, promoting political participation,
and advancing the interests of all South Africans." Jeffrey
Herbst is Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
at Miami University, in Ohio. Fulltext
Syria
A27 - Syria After Mehlis: How the Lebanese Prime Minister's
Assassination Will Affect U.S.- Syrian Relations
Brooking Institute, Saban Center for Middle East Policy ,
October 27, 2005, 36p
”In the aftermath of the Mehlis Report, the UN Security Council
unanimously adopted a resolution demanding Syria's full cooperation
with a U.N. investigation into the assassination of Lebanon's
former prime minister and warned of possible "further action"
if it doesn't… How the Bush Administration responds to the Mehlis
report will have a potentially profound impact on its Iraq policy
and its wider efforts to promote democracy in the Middle East.
The report could bolster the administration to force Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad to cooperate with the inquiry, end alleged meddling
in Lebanon and Iraq, and halt support for Palestinian militants.
The investigation appears to have already affected Syrian politics,
raising the possibility of changes inside the regime…” Flynt
Leverett is Senior Fellow at The Saban Center for Middle East
Policy, The Brookings Institution, Ammar Abdulhamid is Visiting
Fellow at The Saban Center for Middle East Policy, The Brookings
Institution. Fulltext
Ukraine
A28 - Is the Orange Revolution Fading?
Arel, Dominique
Current History, October 2005, v104, #684, 6p
"Eight months after the democratic opposition's heady triumph,
Ukraine's new regime still calls itself reformist. But is it the
same as the old regime?" Dominique Arel is an associate
professor and chair of Ukrainian studies at the University of
Ottawa in Canada. Order article
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