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George Soros
For George Soros's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 6, 2006
Concept of war on terror plagued by weaknesses
PRAGUE -- Israel's failure to subdue Hezbollah demonstrates the many weaknesses of the war-on-terror concept. One weakness is that even if the targets are terrorists, the victims are often innocent civilians, and their suffering reinforces the terrorist cause. In response to Hezbollah's attacks, Israel was justified in wanting to destroy Hezbollah and to protect itself against the threat of missiles on its border. However, Israel should have taken greater care to minimize collateral damage. The civilian casualties and material damage inflicted on Lebanon inflamed Muslims and world opinion against Israel and converted Hezbollah from aggressors to heroes of resistance. Weakening Lebanon has also made it more difficult to rein in Hezbollah.
COMMENTARY / World
May 10, 2006
Give Assembly more say in picking secretary general
NEW YORK -- The United Nations is torn apart by internal tensions. No sooner was the controversy over the creation of a Human Rights Council resolved than a new battle erupted. The United States is pressing for administrative reforms and threatening to cut off funding if the reforms are not forthcoming. The secretary general has submitted a reasonable reform plan, but a majority of U.N. member states, acting together as the so-called Group of 77, are balking because they regard it as another step in reducing the authority of the General Assembly relative to the Security Council.

Longform

Later this month, author Shogo Imamura will open Honmaru, a bookstore that allows other businesses to rent its shelves. It's part of a wave of ideas Japanese booksellers are trying to compete with online spaces.
The story isn't over for Japan's bookstores