Middle East Policy

Bush Sees Democratic Progress in Iraq, Gaza President calls Israeli decision to withdraw settlers "courageous" President Bush says the drafting of a constitution in Iraq and the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza are indications that democracy is growing. Speaking to reporters in Donnelly, Idaho, August 23, Bush described the Iraqi efforts to write a constitution as “an amazing event.” He said the Iraqis are in the process of creating a document that “guarantees minority rights, women’s rights, freedom to worship … in a country that only knew dictatorship.” Bush said Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon made a “courageous decision” in withdrawing Israeli settlers and forces from Gaza. “In other words, this is step one in the development of a democracy,” Bush said. He said the next step is the establishment of a working government in Gaza. He noted that U.S. Army Lieutenant General William Ward is helping the Palestinian Authority consolidate its security forces and former World Ba

Rice Congratulates Iraqis on Submission of Draft Constitution Negotiators request three more days to make amendments Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice congratulated Iraq and its constitutional committee on the submission of a draft constitution to the Transitional National Assembly August 22. “The process by which Iraqis have reached this point is historic and in the best tradition of democracy,” Rice said in a written statement following the submission of the document. “From Iraq’s first free elections in January, to the creation of an inclusive transitional government in the spring, to today’s draft constitution, free Iraqis have shown determination and resolve in the face of extremism and violence.” The constitutional committee submitted the document to the Transitional National Assembly shortly before the midnight deadline with the provision that the committee may propose amendments to the text over the next three days. Negotiators said that there are still a number of outstand

Iraq Constitution Major Step to New Way of Life, Rumsfeld Says Defense Department Report, August 23: Iraq Update Washington -- Completing a constitution will be another important Iraqi step toward a new way of life "ruled by ballot boxes rather than by death squads," Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says. Briefing journalists at the Pentagon August 23, Rumsfeld noted that the document's completion "has been delayed a bit, but democracy has never been described as speedy, efficient or perfect." He said the draft being worked on "will require a respect for democratic principles and the rights of women and minorities." Iraqi Kurds, Sunnis and Shi'a will need to have "reasonable confidence" that the new constitution will protect each of them. "That is a big deal. That is tough stuff. That is hard work. That is a leap of faith," Rumsfeld said. "Therefore the constitution, to be successful, has to take into account the leg

Op-Ed: Science and Diplomacy The Washington Times, August 17, 2005 Michael B. d'Arcy , Science and Technology Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies Michael A. Levi , Nonresident Science Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies From the beginning of the war on terrorism, both the Bush administration and its critics have touted the value of public diplomacy—the art of bringing peoples, rather than governments, to America's side. The recent confirmation of Karen Hughes, a close confidant of the president, as undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs puts an influential figure in charge of leading a revamped effort. As Mrs. Hughes seeks to make headway in the Islamic world, she should take advantage of an unlikely tool: the appeal of American science and technology. Just as the United States worked through scientific networks to promote its values during the Cold War, it should be reaching out through scientists and engineers today. A Pew survey of six predominantly Muslim cou

Iraqi Women Risk All For Their Rights By Basma Fakri The New York Daily News August 11, 2005 If Iraq is to succeed as a model democracy in the Middle East, the next few days will be among the most crucial since its liberation from Saddam Hussein's iron grip. At stake is whether women will be full partners in Iraq's new freedom or whether they will be relegated to second-class status, denied equal rights and prevented from full participation in Iraq's society, economy and government. One of the results of Saddam's many wars and political assassinations is that today women make up about 60% of the Iraqi population. By necessity, these women have participated in, and contributed collectively with, their fellow brothers in the functioning and rebuilding of Iraq. Iraq's many widows carry the burden of their family's needs under harsh circumstances. Iraq's new constitution must be completed by Monday. Unfortunately for Iraqi women, draft versions of the constituti

Rice Says International Community Opposes Iran's Nuclear Behavior North Korea showed "businesslike" attitude in recent negotiations, she says Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says the international community seems to have reached a “very strong” consensus opposing Iran’s behavior with regard to its nuclear program and its capacity to reprocess and enrich nuclear fuel. “[W]e expect that the next step will be to work with others to make certain that there are consequences for that behavior. And we believe that the [U.N.] Security Council is a reasonable next step,” Rice said in an interview with the New York Times August 17. The State Department released the transcript of the interview August 22. Iran recently resumed reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, which it had voluntarily suspended in November 2004 because of international concerns that it was engaged in a secret program to develop nuclear weapons. The resumption drew international outcry, and the International Ato

Op-Ed: Mocked by Mullahs By Stefania Lapenna Tech Central Station August 11, 2005 Iran's recent move to resume its nuclear activities both defies the European Union's warnings and makes a mockery of the EU's diplomatic efforts in the Middle East. It is a defeat of Europe's policy toward the Islamic Republic. It demonstrated, in case anyone still doubted it, the determination of a terrorist regime to get its hands on a nuclear bomb. Above all, it has proven that neither economic incentives nor any form of dialogue can change the Mullahs' minds. And yet, it seems that Europe still doesn't get it. We read that the EU Big 3 (France, Germany and UK) are now "getting tougher" with the Mullahs by threatening UN sanctions. But there is little to hope that this threat will become a reality. The Europeans have significant economic interests in Iran, and they are not willing to compromise them anytime soon. The Mullahs know who is on their side and who is not. Ne

Report: Cracks in the Yemeni System Sarah Phillips Middle East Report July 28, 2005 (Sarah Phillips is a doctoral candidate in political science at the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies of the Australian National University in Canberra.) The sudden announcement by Yemeni President Ali Abdallah Salih that he will step down in 2006 in favor of "young blood" has set the country and the region abuzz. Having led the northern Yemen Arab Republic from 1978, and then assumed the presidency of the whole of Yemen following the country's unification in 1990, Salih has enjoyed the second-longest rule in the Arab world, behind only Libyan strongman Muammar Qaddafi. As speculation rages that Salih's announcement is only a ploy, that the "young blood" is his son Ahmad or that he does in fact intend to relinquish power, one thing is certain: Yemen is in the midst of a prolonged security and economic crisis that has exposed the fragility of the state and widened cracks in

Research: Power-Sharing in Iraq David L. Phillips Senior Fellow and Deputy Director, Center for Preventive Action Council on Foreign Relations, April 25, 2005 View report While Iraq's elections were a watershed in the country's history, the real fight for power will be over Iraq's permanent constitution. This fight is just getting under way. Power-Sharing in Iraq , written by David L. Phillips, a senior fellow and deputy director of the Council's Center for Preventive Action, recommends a "federal system of governance that preserves Iraq as a unitary state, advances the aspirations of ethnic and sectarian groups, and is administratively viable. Federal Iraq states should control all affairs not explicitly assigned to the national government." The report examines hot-button issues such as ownership of Iraq's energy wealth, disarming militias, the status of Kirkuk, individual and group rights, and the role of Islam in Iraqi governance. It also outlines roles

Cheney Says United States Will Remain Relentless in Iraq Mission critical to future security of free nations, vice president says Washington -- The United States is not relenting in Iraq, because the mission is too vital and the future of U.S. security is too important, says Vice President Cheney. "Iraq is a critical front in the war on terror, and victory there is critical to the future security of the United States and other free nations," Cheney told the 73rd national convention of the Military Order of the Purple Heart in Springfield, Missouri, August 18. The Purple Heart is a medal awarded to members of the U.S. armed forces killed or wounded in combat. "Our mission in Iraq is clear. On the military side, we are hunting down the terrorists, and training Iraqi security forces so they can take over responsibility for defending their own country." The vice president noted that the United States and its allies are helping Iraqis on the political side "build