WebMemo posted July 12, 2006 by Daniella Markheim, Dana Dillon
The Case for Permanent Normal Trading Relations with Vietnam
On May 31, America
and Vietnam signed a bilateral market access agreement detailing
the requirements for Vietnam's accession to the World Trade
Organization (WTO). Vietnam will now work to finalize a
multilateral draft Protocol of Accession that must be approved by
the WTO General Council before it can become a WTO member. In order
for…
WebMemo posted July 11, 2006 by Dana Dillon
Terrorist Strike at Fault Lines in South Asia
On July 11,
terrorists attacked the transportation network in Mumbai, India,
killing and wounding hundreds, possibly more than a thousand. A
grenade attack against a bus earlier in the day killed five people
in Kashmir and raised suspicions of a coordinated attack across the
country. Though there was no initial claim of responsibility for
either…
WebMemo posted June 2, 2006 by Dana Dillon
Bringing Burma to the U.N. Security Council
On May 31, 2006, the
State Department announced that the United States would "pursue a
U.N. Security Council resolution that will underscore the
international communities concerns about the situation in Burma."[1]
It's about time. The military has ruled Burma since 1962, and this
effort,…
Backgrounder posted May 18, 2006 by Baker Spring, Dana Dillon
Nuclear India and the Non-Proliferation Treaty
The Bush
Administration's initiative to sell civilian nuclear technology to
India, a de facto nuclear-weapon state, is a landmark
decision that will have a broad and lasting impact on the
international nonproliferation regime. The challenge will be to
develop cooperative nuclear energy relationships with friendly,
democratic, de facto nuclear powers such…
Backgrounder posted February 23, 2006 by Dana Dillon
President Bush's Challenge in South Asia
President George W. Bush
will travel to India and Pakistan in the first part of March.
Although the United States, India, and Pakistan agree on several
issues-such as the war on terrorism and trade issues generally-the
President probably will face some requests that are contrary…
Executive Memorandum posted February 2, 2006 by Dana Dillon
Time for a U.N. Security Council Resolution on Burma
The
plague of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), the
despotic military junta that rules in Burma, is no longer simply an
issue of human rights abuse and economic mismanagement inside
Burma's borders. The SPDC's arbitrary and secretive decisions are
causing vast human suffering across Asia, including
rampant drug production and smuggling,…
WebMemo posted January 26, 2006 by Dana Dillon
Timika Arrests Show Growing Respect and Strength in Indo-U.S. Relations
On January 11,
near the town of Timika in the Papua province, Indonesian police
from the American-trained Special Detachment 88 and working in
close cooperation with the U.S. FBI arrested 12 Indonesians who are
suspected in the murder of two American teachers. The capture of
these fugitives is an enormous boost to U.S.-Indonesian relations
and…
Backgrounder posted October 19, 2005 by John Tkacik, Jr., Dana Dillon
China and ASEAN: Endangered American Primacy in Southeast Asia
China is rapidly becoming the predominant
power in Southeast Asia. Beijing's diplomats have effectively
translated China's burgeoning economic clout into political
influence, leaving in question the U.S. role and commitment to the
region, even with traditional allies and friends.
If the United States hopes to avoid the
emergence of a Beijing-dominated Southeast Asia, Washington…
WebMemo posted August 1, 2005 by Dana Dillon
Rice Misses the ASEAN Regional Forum: Now What?
This July,
Condoleezza Rice became the first American Secretary of State to
send her deputy to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
Regional Forum since it was first held in 1994. Taking their cue
from Rice, foreign ministers from Japan, India, and China either
skipped the meeting or departed early. The Forum has been…
WebMemo posted July 27, 2005 by Dana Dillon
Peace in Aceh: What it Means for the U.S.
After 29 years and
the loss of an estimated 15,000 lives, the Indonesian government
and the Free Aceh Movement ("GAM" for its Indonesian name,
Gerakan Aceh Merdeka) may finally end a war that frequently
damaged U.S.-Indonesian relations and nearly landed GAM on the list
of foreign terrorist groups. Both parties announced they had
reached a…