Other than the future of the Old City of Jerusalem, the Israeli settlements, in the West Bank in particular, have been the most intractable problem of the peace process. The Sharon-led coalition (with Labor) may be in the best possible position to decide about the ultimate disposition of a large

Intellectuals have traditionally forged ahead as a force of social and political change, rejecting the oversimplifications, empty slogans, and sweeping generalizations that are the domain of the propagandist. Intellectuals act as the surveyors of past and present generations, and through clear th

Although democratic reforms in the Arab and Muslim worlds are a critical element, among several others, in combating terrorism, the question is: How can the United States promote democracy in these countries without precipitating political and social upheaval?

It appears that 9/11 was the

Despite the political changes sweeping the Middle East for better or worse, Arab intellectuals both inside and outside the region remain entrenched in their old anti-Israeli and anti-American positions. They seem to derive comfort from living in the illusions of the past, rather than face the cha

While the United States should encourage democratic reforms in the Middle East, the Bush administration must not overestimate the "democratic surge sweeping the region" and so lose sight of the social, political, and religious realities that will ultimately effect meaningful reform. The

The Sunni insurgency is particularly compelling because although they constitute a minority, Sunni communities have ruled Iraq for centuries. Now, in the wake of the war, they have been ousted from power without any hope of ever governing Iraq again. The insurgents are assisted, sheltered, and su

Three and a half years after the Bush administration declared war against terrorism and the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), I am not sure that I feel any safer than I did before 9/11. While administration officials continue to insist that we are making considerable progress, intellig

Since the beginning of Mr. Bush’s first term, his administration has failed to pursue a coherent policy toward either Iran or North Korea to curb their appetite for developing nuclear weapons. The administration’s stubborn refusal to negotiate directly with North Korea finally pushed

It is becoming increasingly obvious that the death of Arafat has altered the dynamic between Israelis and Palestinians, creating a real opportunity for achieving an interim agreement and perhaps in a few years a final accord. How long this opportunity will last and what it will take to make serio