FINANCIAL TIMES 01/17/08 By Michael Shank Sir, At long last, US strategy in Afghanistan is wising up (“From poppies to pomegranates”, January 14). Putting crop eradication on the back burner, a move aided by concern from the government in Kabul, the US is pursuing ways in which high-value produce can […]
Arab News 01/16/2008 By Michael Shank In the United States’ global war on terrorism, Iraq long ago became ground zero both for American forces and those eager to wage war against the West. But it has since also become a formula of sorts for US intervention in other key target […]
Arab News 01/07/2008 Conducted by Michael Shank Dr. Srgjan Kerim is the President of the 62nd session of the United Nations General Assembly. On Dec. 13, 2007, President Kerim sat down with Michael Shank from George Mason University’s Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution to discuss relations with Iran. Michael […]
Arab News 01/06/2008 By Michael Shank The United States’ response to the assassination of Benazir Bhutto has been, unsurprisingly, consistent: this attack by terrorists, while an affront to freedom, must not stop democratic reform in Pakistan, let the elections continue. This mirrors, almost verbatim, post-assassination utterances by Pakistan President Pervez […]
Nepali Times 01/04/2008 By Michael Shank and Ami Carpenter The World Bank’s launch in late November of a five-year action plan for fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa is emblematic of the Bank’s new direction. The structural adjustment programs are of yesteryear. Less controversial campaigns are becoming more common and […]
Foreign Policy in Focus 12/16/2007 Conducted by Michael Shank Noam Chomsky is a noted linguist, author, and foreign policy expert. On February 9, Michael Shank interviewed him on the latest developments in U.S. policy toward Iran, Iraq, North Korea, and Venezuela. Along the way, Chomsky also commented on climate change, […]
The Jakarta Post 12/14/2007 By Michael Shank The irony of Indonesia hosting the United Nations climate change conference in Bali is not lost on anyone. The host county is the third largest greenhouse gas emitter, behind China and the United States, and the world’s leader in deforestation rates at five […]
FINANCIAL TIMES 11/30/07 By Michael Shank Sir, Saudi Arabia and Syria hardly constitute a coalition of the craven (“Iran looms large over Arab ‘coalition of the frightened’ “, November 28). The appearance of these and other Arab states at the Annapolis peace summit is anything but an exhibition of anxiety […]
RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH 11/25/07 By Michael Shank and Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) The time has come for the world’s leaders to face hard truths concerning the Middle East, specifically the conflict between Palestine and Israel. On Tuesday, President George Bush will provide such an opportunity as leaders of the U.S., Israel, […]
Foreign Policy in Focus 11/18/2007 By Michael Shank The Democratic presidential candidates have been salivating for a situation like Pakistan to come along the campaign trail. Eternally looking soft on security and stuck with no road map for Iraq and Afghanistan, Pakistan offers the candidates an opportunity to brandish new […]