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COMMENTARY / World

Oct 23, 2004

Bush critics also hit at Reagan

By Alfred Balitzer

CLAREMONT, California -- Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry criticizes President George W. Bush for "going it alone in Iraq," for failing to build the support of the United Nations and for failing to build an international coalition of America's traditional allies.

COMMENTARY / World

Oct 23, 2004

First step to a national security strategy

By Yuki Tatsumi

WASHINGTON -- Last week in Tokyo, Japan's Council on Security and Defense Capabilities (better known in the United States as the Araki Commission) issued its final report on the future direction of Japanese national-security policy. The report demands special attention, as it will provide the basis on...

COMMENTARY / THE VIEW FROM MOSCOW

Oct 22, 2004

Russian voters prefer Bush

By Constantine Pleshakov

MOSCOW -- According to a recent international poll, Russia is among a handful of nations that largely support U.S. President George W. Bush and want him re-elected. The Democratic Party nominee, Sen. John Kerry, doesn't do well at all among Russians surveyed -- as opposed to the overwhelming approval...

COMMENTARY

Oct 21, 2004

Exacerbating Pakistan's democratic predicament

By Farhan Bokhari

ISLAMABAD -- A decision by Pakistan's ruling party to push a bill through Parliament that would extend President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's tenure as head of the influential military establishment as well as give him wide-ranging powers marks a new setback for the nuclear-armed South Asian country's troubled...

COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE

Oct 21, 2004

Candidates focus on battleground states

By Bob Keefe

WASHINGTON -- Regardless of what you thought of the idea before the debates came off, chances are you will have to admit that the 2004 U.S. presidential debates provided a rare and welcome opportunity to get a better understanding of the two candidates, U.S. President George W. Bush and Massachusetts...

COMMENTARY / World

Oct 21, 2004

Power of opinion rising in Muslim Asia

By Eric Teo Chu Cheow

SINGAPORE -- Three major political events in Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and Bandar Seri Begawan the past month could have profound effects on the rising power of civil society and of party and public opinion in Southeast Asia.

COMMENTARY

Oct 20, 2004

Help wanted for promoting democrac

By Ronald Meinardus

MANILA -- A myriad of organizations from North America and Europe operate in various parts of the world with the objective of advancing democratic governance. While their strategies may differ, these "democracy-assistance foundations" hold the common belief that promoting democracy essentially promotes...

COMMENTARY / World

Oct 20, 2004

Friction on Asia's flywheel

By Ifzal Ali

MANILA -- The economies of developing Asia are expected to grow 7 percent this year, equaling their performance of 2000, which saw the fastest growth since the Asian financial crisis (1997-98). Growth has been strong in all regions, particularly in East and Southeast Asia. Is this pace sustainable?

COMMENTARY

Oct 18, 2004

Japan will pay if ODA slides

By Keizo Nabeshima

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the start of Japan's official development assistance. Since October 1954, when Japan joined the Colombo Plan and provided technical assistance, ODA has been an important element of Japan's diplomacy. According to the Foreign Ministry's white paper on ODA, Japan...

COMMENTARY

Oct 18, 2004

Balancing work with other ways of life

By Hugh Cortazzi

LONDON -- Alan Milburn, the British secretary of state for health, resigned last year to "spend more time with his family." This excuse has often been used to cover some misdemeanor or a falling out with colleagues, but in this case it seems to have been genuine.

COMMENTARY

Oct 18, 2004

Afghanistan: the world's opium market

By Doug Bandow

WASHINGTON -- Afghanistan's presidential elections came off with little violence but some damaging controversy. President Hamid Karzai's 15 opponents charged vote fraud.

COMMENTARY / World

Oct 17, 2004

Did Kosovo illuminate Iraq?

By Ramesh Thakur

One of the curious features of the Iraq war last year was the serious split across the Atlantic. And what seemed to puzzle as much as infuriate Americans was why the major European powers, having signed on to war without U.N. authorization in 1999 against Slobodan Milosevic, "the butcher of Belgrade,"...

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.

What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji

By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Ishii Iron Works remakes self for workers, new energy

Ishii Iron Works remakes self for workers, new energy

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