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This article addresses the involvement of the United States military in Iraq. This issue has invoked outrage among the nation since the war's inception in 2003. Democrats, Republicans and citizens alike are divided over how to best handle the eventual withdrawal of troops. The article offers five points of advice for U.S. policy makers, including cleaning out rogues, deal with Al-Sadr, bring the Sunnis back, wake up the neighbors, and lastly, get though, then get out.

This article discusses the nuclear arms crisis between North Korea and the international community. After President Kim Jong II of North Korea successfully completed a nuclear bomb test, world leaders, including U.S. President George W. Bush, are analyzing the political, economical and technological impact the test will have in the future. Terrorism concerns and risk management are also a concern. INSET: NUCLEAR WORLD.

The article focuses on increased escalating violence between Israel and the Hamas controlled Palestinian government and the Hizballah terrorist organization in Lebanon. Recent causes of the conflict are discussed, as well as diplomatic interventions by the United Nations, Arab countries interested in stability, or the United States through Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice.

The article discusses the change in U.S. President George W. Bush's stance on diplomacy. Bush is no longer the tough talker, now suggesting that the U.S. work closely with other countries to resolve issues diplomatically. Several reasons are discussed for why Bush's stance may have changed. Iran and North Korea both continue to work towards obtaining weapons of mass destruction which is the opposite of what the president wanted in response to the current war. The author states that if Bush wants to improve his legacy, he needs to attain major changes that do not involve Iraq.

The article focuses on the potential threat of a nuclear armed Iran under president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The article explores multiple questions surrounding the issue, including what Iran wants, how close the country is to gaining a nuclear bomb, and what the United States can do about it. Iran's boldness in the face of the international community may result from what it sees as a vulnerable Western world, with high oil prices and troops deployed in Iraq.

Profiles U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Her efforts promoting U.S. foreign policy worldwide; Comments of Rice; How her enthusiasm for travel has transformed her image; Influence of Rice on the President George W. Bush administration; Approach to dealing with the war in Iraq; Questions over Iraq's political policy; Issue of how long the administration plans to keep U.S. troops in Iraq; Career background, including her tenure as National Security Adviser; Achievements; Relationship with Bush; Question of whether Rice's commitment to the Bush doctrine of bringing democracy to societies that have never known it is impairing her judgment; Qualities; Outlook for Iraq.

Looks at Condoleezza Rice and her dazzling of audiences abroad. Evidence that the new Secretary of State has consolidated her power as the chief exponent of the Administration's foreign policy; Belief her best asset is her direct line to President George W. Bush with whom she is very close; Actions she has taken to calm the U.S. position towards Hizballah in Lebanon and leading the push for reform in the Middle East.

Focuses on building tensions between the United States and Iran over Iran's uranium-enrichment program. Accusations by the United States that Iran's enrichment program is an attempt to gain nuclear weapons; Signs that ruling clerics in Iran will not agree to permanently abandon nuclear technology; Fears of the U.S. and allies at the thought of an undemocratic terrorist-supporting Islamist regime possessing nuclear capabilities.

Considers what the death of Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat might mean for Middle East peace. Reaction from world leaders which offers some hope; Questions of who will fill the leadership void; Failure of the U.S. to act on the optimism by getting peace talks underway; New chairman of the PLO who is Mahmoud Abbas, a moderate former Prime Minister and longtime No. 2 in the organization who will share authority with current Prime Minster Ahmed Qurei; Belief of many that an election will be won by Abbas and why that would be encouraging; The current plan of the Bush administration which to wait; Burden which is on the Palestinians to turn themselves into a model partner before the U.S. or Israel will offer a helping hand; Why this is not really possible; Suggestion that waiting will be defeating to the peace process and that all parties need to sever old stances to make peace possible.

Reports on seeming contradictions in U.S. President George W, Bush's foreign policy. Confusion over nuclear-security issues with Iran and North Korea; Struggle at the highest levels to find common tactical ground between two irreconcilable approaches which are engagement and confrontation; Hard line stance with Iran on finding of nuclear weaponry; Softening of confrontational politics; Roles of Britain, France and Germany in a face saving deal with Iran; Reaction of Washington; Compromise offered to North Korea regarding nuclear weapons; Reasons for the diplomatic offer. INSET: MEASURING THE THREATS.

Discusses post-war Iraq and the challenge the United States faces in bringing peace to the country as coalition soldiers are being killed, despite the American victory in Iraq. Details of the battle at Majar and tribal justice; View that the number of coalition deaths indicate the attacks are part of an organized resistance to American occupation and that the situation is getting worse; Responsibility of U.S. Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez to determine who is responsible for that attacks; Question of whether the actions of the coalition forces contribute to the attacks; How allegations against soldiers cause dangerous rumors and resentment; Difficulty in preventing looting and protecting the power grid from sabotage.

Focuses on U.S. President George W. Bush as he prepares for one final push to win support at the United Nations (UN) for a war to disarm Iraq. Role of Hans Blix, the UN's chief weapons inspector; Views of Blix; Why a second resolution offers advantages to the U.S. administration and to British Prime Minister Tony Blair; Outlook for the decision on whether Iraq is in material breach of UN Security Council resolutions; Difficulties for the U.S. if a new resolution proves unattainable. INSET: WHO'S GOING TO VOTE FOR WAR?.

Discusses the reorganization of al-Qaeda and its terrorist affiliates since the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States. Indication that terrorist cells exist in 60 countries; How the group has been waging jihad against the U.S. and its allies, including the bombing on Bali Island, Indonesia; Idea that al-Qaeda is avoiding conflict with the Pakistan government by keeping its training camps small; Challenge of crisis issues in the U.S. government concerning North Korea and Iraq; Refocus of the U.S. counterterrorism mission.

Poses questions about possible U.S. military action against Iraq and Saddam Hussein. Consideration of whether military inspections would be enough to end the threat from weapons of mass destruction in Iraq; Analysis of how integral support from the United Nations is for a U.S. attack; Speculation about how long a war with Iraq would be; Questions about whether Saddam would use his weapons of mass destruction; Analysis for the future of Iraq if Saddam Hussein is ousted; Consideration of the effects in the Middle East of a war.

Focuses on the United States relations with Saudi Arabia and the question of whether the U.S. will continue to rely on the Saudis for oil. Impact of anti-Americanism and sympathy for Osama bin Laden's cause that is prevalent in Saudi Arabia; Reluctance of Saudi Arabia to participate in a U.S. operation against Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein; Role of Wahhabism in breeding religious zealotry in Saudi Arabia.

Focuses on the violence in the Middle East between the Palestinians and Israelis. Entrapment of Palestinian Authority leader Yasser Arafat in his compound after a Hamas suicide bomber killed several Israelis outside of Netanya, Israel; Involvement of the U.S.; Thoughts on why Israel is aggressively pursuing Arafat and whether this strategy will stop the terror; Profiles of several Palestinian suicide bombers; Question of whether Arafat will control the Palestinian militants; Outlook for peace in the area. INSETS: THE FOUR ARMS OF MILITANCY;WHO CAN FOLLOW ARAFAT?.

Reports on the state of Syria in light of the death of its dictator Hafez Assad in June 2000. Biographical information about Assad who ruled Syria for three decades; Impact that Assad's death may have on peace negotiations in the Middle East; Predictions about how Assad's son, Bashar, will lead if he is the successor. INSET: The Doctor Will Lead You Now, by Christine Gorman et al.

Profiles Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak as of June 5, 2000 in light of the forced-retreat of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon. Significance of Israeli withdrawal from the Lebanon territory and description of why Israel invaded the territory eighteen years earlier; Public opinion about the pullout; Unique responsibility that Barak has taken for the relations with Syria in light of the withdrawal.

Excerpts from an interview with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Ahmadinejad discusses his motivations for a recent letter he penned to the American people about the behavior of the American government. Ahmadinejad also discusses the Holocaust and its effects on Palestinians, and American and British support of Israel.

Focuses on the attention given to Syria by the United States. Allegations made by the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush against Syria including the harboring of Iraqi leaders and sponsorship of terrorism; How the U.S. Congress introduced a bill that would cut ties to Syria; Goals of the U.S. rhetoric towards Syria; Impact of U.S. allegations throughout the Middle East with respect to anti-Americanism. INSET: THE CASE AGAINST SYRIA.

Focuses on the leadership of Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia and his efforts to promote peace. His determination to play a more open and assertive role in regional affairs following a Middle East peace initiative; His hope of improving Saudi Arabia's image in light of its connections to September 11, 2001; Reactions to the Saudi initiative.

Analyzes political developments in Lebanon, following the Israeli government's decision to withdraw its forces in the country in 1985. Impact of the decision on Israeli General Ariel Sharon's dream of creating a pro-Israel state; Volatility of Lebanon's internal political situation; History of Israel's involvement in Lebanon.

If there was a winner at the seventeenth session of the Palestine National Council, held in the Jordanian capital from November 22 through 29, it was not Yasir Arafat. It [...]

The article presents an interview with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad regarding debating U.S. President George W. Bush, pursuing nuclear energy and denying the Holocaust. Ahmadinejad discusses his impressions of New York during his visit to the U.S. in 2005. He explains the issues that he would raise if ever he and President Bush make a televised debate. He also discusses his willingness to open direct negotiations with the U.S.

The article reports on the emergence of Hizballah as a postwar force in Lebanon. As the country recovers from the conflict with Israel, Hizballah offers grants and promises to rebuild homes. This is not, says the article, done purely out of charity but as part of an effort to gain influence in the Middle East. The article asserts that, unless other nations, such as the United States, can begin to compete with support from Iran, a major Hizballah backer, the militant group's power will increase.

Reports on seeming contradictions in U.S. President George W, Bush's foreign policy. Confusion over nuclear-security issues with Iran and North Korea; Struggle at the highest levels to find common tactical ground between two irreconcilable approaches which are engagement and confrontation; Hard line stance with Iran on finding of nuclear weaponry; Softening of confrontational politics; Roles of Britain, France and Germany in a face saving deal with Iran; Reaction of Washington; Compromise offered to North Korea regarding nuclear weapons; Reasons for the diplomatic offer. INSET: MEASURING THE THREATS.

Focuses on the United States relations with Saudi Arabia and the question of whether the U.S. will continue to rely on the Saudis for oil. Impact of anti-Americanism and sympathy for Osama bin Laden's cause that is prevalent in Saudi Arabia; Reluctance of Saudi Arabia to participate in a U.S. operation against Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein; Role of Wahhabism in breeding religious zealotry in Saudi Arabia.

This article reports on the role of Syria in an assassination in Lebanon which is bringing the country world attention. Rafiq Hariri was a bold, self-made billionaire but a prudent politician. Syrian troops occupied his country and bossed its politics, yet during two terms as Lebanon's dynamic Prime Minister, he was careful never to oppose Syria head on. When he was summoned to Damascus last summer to endorse changes in his country's constitution that would allow Lebanon's Syria-controlled puppet President to remain in power, he bowed to the demand. When he returned to Beirut with his arm in a white sling, some close to Hariri said the sling was his theatrical way of signaling his disagreement with Syrian policies. Instead it may have signed his death warrant. More than anyone, Hariri was responsible for resurrecting Lebanon from the chaos and blight of its bloody civil war from 1975 until 1990. The thunderous explosion that blew apart Hariri's armor-plated convoy, killing him and 14 others quickly focused on the country that has used political assassination to maintain its dominion over Lebanon for three decades: Syria. Though Damascus denied involvement, anti-Syrian emotions were unleashed in the streets of Beirut, where tens of thousands of mourners from across Lebanon's political spectrum turned Hariri's funeral into a freedom march, demanding an end to Syria's occupation of Lebanon. The Hariri assassination could set off wider reverberations. The possibility that Syria was to blame was reason enough for the Bush Administration to turn up the heat in its campaign of pressure against a regime it has long considered a festering sore in the region. INSET: 3 REASONS WHY SYRIA IS FEELING THE WORLD'S HEAT.

Reports on the assassination of Aziz Rantisi, a leader in Gaza of the militant Palestinian group Hamas. Details of the Israeli missile attack which killed Rantisi; Reactions of Palestinians; Criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon; Israel's policy of targeting Hamas leaders; Timing of the strike following U.S. President George W. Bush's endorsement of Sharon's plan to annex territory in the West Bank; Palestinian fury against Israel and the U.S.; Outlook.

Reports on international reaction to the debate in the United States over a preemptive attack against Iraq. Alliance of British Prime Minister Tony Blair with U.S. President George W. Bush; Opposition of Nelson Mandela and German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder to war against Saddam Hussein; Discussion of the diplomatic environment at the United Nations and in the Muslim world concerning war with Iraq over his development of weapons of mass destruction.

Reports on United States President Bill Clinton's attempts, as of January, 2001, to facilitate a Middle East peace agreement before the end of his term. Clinton's suggestions to Israeli leader Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yassir Arafat regarding the distribution of territory; Objections of the Middle Eastern leaders to Clinton's outline.

Discusses conditions in Syria as of 1999. Health of Syrian President Hafez Assad; His attempts to pass power to his son Bashar Assad; Profile of Bashar Assad; Changes that are occurring in Syria; Outlook for peace talks between Syria and Israel.

Focuses on Iran's president Mohammed Khatami. His views on the United States during an interview with CNN in January 1998; Khatami blaming United States policies for tensions in the Middle East; His efforts to reconcile relations with the United States by increasing his political clout with liberalization in Iran's public life; The United States' response for a face-to-face meeting of authorized representatives; The role of Ayatulla Ali Khamenei.

The article presents an interview with Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He discusses his differences with the Administration of U.S. President George W. Bush. He dismisses the demands of the United Nations that Iran suspend its uranium-enrichment program. He also defends his claim that the Holocaust was a myth.

The article focuses on the life and political career of the King of Saudi Arabia, Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud. Reportedly, the king has made his presence known in the middle east and the world by fighting internal al-Qaeda operatives in his kingdom, working with Iran to soothe Sunni-Shi'ite tensions in Lebanon and launching an Arab peace initiative, which calls for full peace with Israel in exchange for Israel's withdrawal from occupied territories.

This article briefly discusses Ali Larijani, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council in Iran, and that country's chief negotiator in the international dispute over their nuclear program. Many observers feel that Larijani will be the key in steering Iran's foreign policy from a head on collision with the U.S., which is already pushing for economic sanctions against Tehran.

This article discusses how George W. Bush's handling of the Arab-Israeli conflict may affect his legacy. Bush has been criticized for his foreign policy, and the author speculates that Bush's international reputation could be greatly healed by organizing a peace accord among warring Middle Eastern nations.

Presents an interview with former Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Thoughts on announcing his candidacy for president, and belief that a moderating current in control of the country could improve Iran's international relations; Comments on the idea of democracy in Iran, which Rafsanjani feels is a step-by-step process; Views on providing educational opportunities and the right to express opinions.

Focuses on Syrian leader Bashar Assad, who is the son of the last Syrian leader Hafez Assad. Brief biography of Bashar Assad; Military relationship between Syria and Lebanon; Indications that Assad is focused on the Arab struggle against Israel and his actions that are considered anti-American; Discussion of the Golan Heights, which Israel captured in the 1967 war; View of Assad as an unseasoned politician who was reluctant to take control of Syria; How Assad's father was an antagonist to the United States.

Comments on Qatar's official adoption of a stronger pro-United States and modernization stance. Speech given by Sheika Mouza, wife of Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani; Ceremonial opening of the Weill Cornell Medical College, a local branch of an American institution; Possibility that Qatar could be used to station U.S. troops.

Reports on Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal's acknowledgement that the families of suicide bombers have benefited from millions in Saudi aid given to the relatives of Palestinians killed since the beginning of the intifadeh. Reaction of Israelis to the alleged Saudi connection to terrorism.

Discusses the intervention of the United States in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Failure of U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell in peace negotiations; Assertion of President Bush that he has not abandoned the peace process in the Middle East; Plans of Israelis to hold their positions in the towns of Bethlehem and Ramallah.

Presents an interview with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal. Thoughts on the Arab League's peace initiative offered for resolution of the conflict between Israel and Palestine; Why Saudi Arabia is taking a leading role in the peace process; Opinion on Israeli concerns about terrorism; Other issues regarding the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Focuses on Lebanon, the location for an Arab summit meeting about a peace process proposal with Israel. History of Lebanon, including its 1975-90 Christian-Muslim civil war and the occupation by Israeli troops; Improvements in the commerce and industry of Beirut, the capital city; Creation of a stadium, highways, and traffic tunnels; Continued existence of conflicts between Hizballah guerrillas and Israelis; Comments of architect Bernard Khoury, who designed the B-018 nightclub.