Issues of Global Import

4 August 2003


North Korea Caves on Talks
North Korea agreed last week to six-way talks regarding its nuclear program. The US, apparently, offered bilateral talks, as the nightmare state had demanded, under the framework of the hexa-lateral negotiations. Some may read this as the US giving in on a matter of substance while securing a point of appearance, but that is inaccurate. Rather, the North Koreans have over-played their hand and are trying to find a way to climb down. The US merely offered to hold the ladder. Click here to read Kensington's Opinion.

Iranian VP Says Journalist Was Probably Murdered
Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi died in the custody of Iranian authorities on July 10 after being arrested more than 2 weeks before for taking pictures of Evin Prison in Teheran. Her skull was fractured, suffered a brain hemorrhage, and was quickly buried in southern Iran, near her birthplace. Originally, the cause of these injuries was stated as "misadventure", but Iranian Vice-President Mohammad Ali Abtahi said on Wednesday of last week that she was probably murdered. One expects the word "probably" to be extraneous. Click here for more.

Singapore, Chile Get Free Trade Ratification
While everyone's gaze was focused on Iraq, North Korea and Kobe Bryant, the US Senate approved free-trade treaties with Singapore and Chile. The Bush administration has committed itself to expanding trade in a tariff-free world, and these are two small steps toward that goal. The are much bigger steps in increasing the power of the presidency at the expense of the Congress. Click here to read why.