Breffni O'Rourke

November 01, 2004

Middle East: Blast Shakes Tel Aviv Market

A major blast at Tel Aviv's main marketplace today caused deaths and injuries. The blast is believed to have been caused by a Palestinian suicide car bomber. It comes just days after Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat left his West Bank headquarters for medical treatment abroad. The timing of the blast could be seen as a signal to Israel that the Palestinian uprising will continue even in the absence of Arafat.

October 21, 2004

U.S.: Cold War Strategist Paul Nitze Dies

Paul Nitze, one of the most influential U.S. foreign policy experts of the 20th century, who negotiated arms-control accords with the Soviet Union, is dead at the age of 97. Nitze served in various national security roles under six U.S. presidents. He advised presidents through the Berlin crisis and the Cuban missile crisis, and the Vietnam War. Although the Cold War era is now gone, Nitze's vision of free nations making themselves safe from attack is still highly relevant in today's troubled world.

October 20, 2004

World: Risk Of Weapons Proliferation Grows As Nuclear Technology Spreads

After years in the doldrums, nuclear energy is expected to enjoy a marked increase in popularity in the coming years due to concerns over the burning of fossil fuels. This brings with it increased risks of nuclear-weapons proliferation, however. The ongoing dispute between Iran and the West illustrates the practical difficulties of ensuring nonproliferation. Iran is asserting its right to pursue a nuclear energy program, but Western countries, led by the United States, suspect Tehran's intentions are not peaceful. But since much of the basic technology for developing nuclear weapons or civilian nuclear energy is the same, it's hard to find concrete proof either way. Meanwhile, as RFE/RL reports, a growing number of countries are developing similar capabilities -- and, possibly, temptations.

October 20, 2004

Iraq/U.S.: Strategic Study Faults Handling Of Post-Saddam Iraq

A prestigious British think tank, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in London, says Washington and its allies should draw lessons from the mistakes that have been made in managing Iraq since the overthrow of the Saddam Hussein regime. In its authoritative annual yearbook, "The Military Balance," the IISS says the actual invasion of Iraq was a success, but that the occupation afterward was flawed. The study says the "hearts and minds" of the people is the territory that must be won.

October 18, 2004

U.S.: Global Impact -- Could Kerry Victory In Election Further Complicate Relations With Europe? (Part 2)

The United States is the world's only superpower, and its choice for president on 2 November will have an impact on political, economic, and military situations around the globe. The countries of Western Europe -- close supporters and allies of the United States for more than half a century -- will be particularly affected. President George W. Bush's term in office has been characterized by strains in relations with the European allies, mainly over Iraq, but also over economic, environmental, and judicial matters. Bush's main challenger, Senator John Kerry, has pledged to revive ties with Europe and involve the allies in U.S. aims. In the second of a three-part series on the global impact of the U.S. election, RFE/RL finds that a Kerry victory could make things even more complicated for Europe.

October 18, 2004

Iraq: U.S. Request For British Redeployment Poses Dilemma For London

The United States has made a controversial request to Britain to re-deploy some of its troops in Iraq. The request would involve moving hundreds of British troops from their relatively calm zone in southern Iraq to a potentially more dangerous area nearer Baghdad. The British would replace U.S. troops, who would be sent to take part in a major operation believed to be getting underway against insurgents in Al-Fallujah. British officials say they are studying the U.S. request and no decision has been taken yet.

October 12, 2004

Middle East: Humanitarian Conditions Worsen As Gaza Conflict Rages On

The large-scale Israeli military incursion into the northern Gaza Strip is now two weeks old and has claimed more than 100 lives. Designed to clear a buffer zone to stop Palestinian militants from firing rockets into Israel, the operation is having a growing impact on the Gaza Strip's more than 1 million civilians. Life in the poor and densely populated sliver of land was always difficult. But now the deprivation caused by the violence is making conditions "indescribable," according to Palestinian officials.

September 22, 2004

World: Cities And Towns In Many Countries Mark 'Car-Free' Day

More than a thousand cities and towns across the world are marking a "car-free" day today. The idea of the annual event is to encourage people to use alternative, less-polluting methods of travel in place of their private motor vehicles. France started the initiative eight years ago, and since then it has been enthusiastically backed in the rest of Europe, in parts of Asia and Latin America. But many diehards are refusing to do without their personal transport, despite the example of mayors and government ministers cycling to their offices.

September 21, 2004

World: Leaders Pledge To Fight Poverty At UN Conference

More than 50 world leaders have met at the United Nations in New York in a bid to intensify efforts to reduce global poverty. The UN estimates some 2.8 billion people, or almost 44 percent of the world's population, live on less than one dollar a day. The conference, which results from an initiative by Brazil's President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, comes as the UN is falling behind in its stated goal of halving world poverty by 2015.

September 21, 2004

World: Is Global Hurricane Devastation A Sign Of Things To Come?

The hurricane season in the Caribbean and along the southern and eastern coasts of the United States has caused hundreds of deaths, wrought unprecedented property damage, and left an indelible mark on the minds of those who survived the fearsome storms. Flooding from a tropical storm in Haiti has reportedly killed some 600 people. The U.S. state of Florida, hit by three hurricanes within a month, faces damages worth up to $18 billion. Many people have lost everything. The Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, and Cuba have all been affected. And further afield, Japan is having one of its worst typhoon seasons on record. Is this just bad luck, or is global climate change behind these weather extremes? And are things simply going to get worse?

September 16, 2004

Lithuania: AIDS Conference Opens Amid Warnings Of Resurgent Threat

Hundreds are attending a major conference on HIV/AIDS in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. The event aims to give sharper focus to efforts to combat the disease. The EU, one of the sponsors, says it wants the conference to have an impact on immediate neighbors like Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and the Balkans. The meeting follows warnings from experts that HIV/AIDS is spreading rapidly in parts of Eastern Europe.

September 15, 2004

Iran: U.S., Europe Clash On Nuclear Issue, But Options Appear Limited

A new report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) hardly lessens Western unease over Iran's possible nuclear intentions. IAEA Director-General Muhammed el-Baradei says in the report that it remains unclear if Iran's nuclear ambitions are entirely peaceful. But he also says there is still no firm evidence that Iran is secretly developing atomic weapons, as the United States asserts. Differences over what to do now about Iran appear to be growing between the United States and a trio of European Union states that has been dealing with Tehran. Washington is pushing for a harder line, but the Europeans are reluctant to increase pressure on Iran. For its part, Iran says it intends to press on with what it describes as a peaceful nuclear program. Meanwhile, talks are going on behind the scenes at an IAEA board of governors' meeting in Vienna.

August 26, 2004

Russia: Mystery Persists Behind Causes Of Double Plane Disaster

Wreckage from Tu-134 Russia is observing a day of mourning for the 89 people killed in two plane crashes that occurred within minutes of one another late on 24 August. The causes of the crashes remain a mystery, with the authorities saying human error or technical faults cannot be ruled out. But the Russian public remains skeptical that the accidents were anything but terrorist acts. Russian President Vladimir Putin has cut short his holiday in the Black Sea resort of Sochi and returned to Moscow, as the hunt for clues goes on.

August 24, 2004

EU: New Commissioner Calls For Urgent Steps To Control Flood Of Immigrants

The European Union's new justice and home affairs commissioner says immigration into the EU is becoming a flood, and that members of the enlarged union must work much more closely together if the overwhelming flow of illegal immigrants is to be kept under control. The commissioner, Rocco Buttiglione, calls for a strategy under which immigrants are either turned back or given permission to proceed before they reach Europe. In this way, desperate people are spared -- at least, in part -- the dangerous and expensive path of illegal migration.

August 20, 2004

Europe: Environment Agency Says Continent Will Be Hit Hard by Freak Weather

Fierce summer storms have hit a number of European countries in recent days, with torrential rains, landslides, high winds, and lightning strikes. That follows forest fires that have ravaged woodlands in Southern Europe. But according to a new report from the European Environment Agency, this may be just the start. The report says global warming caused by greenhouse gases will, in future, mean more frequent and more costly storms, floods, droughts, and other extreme weather.

August 18, 2004

OSCE: Organization Shifting To Focus Greater Attention On Central Asia, Caucasus

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) should consider paying extra attention to Central Asia and the Caucasus. That's the view of the OSCE's current chairman, Solomon Pasi. Pasi, who is also Bulgaria's foreign minister, says it makes sense now to concentrate on those parts of the world, in view of new international realities. He also said it would be "far more useful" to hold the OSCE's major annual economic forum in Central Asia rather than in Central Europe. RFE/RL reports on what looks like a shift in emphasis for the 55-member OSCE, which is Europe's largest security and rights body.

August 17, 2004

Germany: Demonstrations Growing Against Labor Reforms

Tens of thousands of Germans have taken to the streets, protesting joblessness and planned cuts in unemployment benefits. The demonstrations have taken place in several cities in the economically depressed eastern part of the country. Despite the protests, the government of Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder says it will not back down on the cuts, which will reduce benefits for long-term jobless to the level of social welfare payments. As RFE/RL reports, the protests are raising doubts about the government's will to carry through with further elements of its labor reform package, which economists say are urgently needed.

August 16, 2004

U.S.-Russia: 'Not Enemies, Not Yet Allies' -- Ivanov, Rumsfeld Work At Intensifying Relations

Sergei Ivanov with Putin (file photo) Not enemies, but probably not yet allies. That's how Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov characterized relations between Russia and the United States following two days of talks in St. Petersburg with U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Ivanov said the two countries share a common interest in dealing with threats from terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. At the same time, he said Russia is not pleased with the way NATO has arrived on its doorstep via the Baltic republics. Even so, the two ministers agreed on joint naval exercises next month, and had a thorough exchange of views on Iraq and other topics.

August 13, 2004

Middle East: Yemen, Saudis Working To Contain Islamic Extremism

Saudi Arabia and Yemen have much in common historically, having basically the same tribal background. Today, they have something else in common as well -- namely, that they are both seen as under threat from Islamic militancy. Some experts see the Arabian Peninsula as one of the areas currently most vulnerable to destabilization by extremists. However, the Saudi and Yemeni governments have scored some victories in the past few days. But is this too little, too late?

August 12, 2004

Iran: Tehran's Test Of New Missile Stirs Concern

Iran has caused fresh concern with its test this week of a new version of its Shihab-3 ballistic missile. Top Iranian officials say the missile is for purely defensive purposes, but experts note it is capable of striking targets in Israel as well as U.S. targets in the Middle East. At the same time, Iranian leaders have said they intend to press on with what they say is a peaceful nuclear-energy program, despite international mistrust of their intentions. Just why is Iran taking this uncompromising line?