U.N. Members: Issues of Concern

Printable Student Handout

Russia: For years Russia has battled with Islamic separatists in Chechnya-a region in the southern part of your country. Your government has called the separatists "terrorists" and held them responsible for bomb explosions near Moscow that killed 300 innocent civilians as well as other terrorist attacks. You have also accused foreign terrorists of campaigning in Chechnya and leading an invasion into Dagestan, also in southern Russia. For years the United States criticized the Russian army's use of force in Chechnya. Since September 11, this criticism has been muted. Russia provided the United States valuable intelligence information as well as military support in Afghanistan. Other important issues loom in your relationship with the United States, including NATO expansion into the Baltic states, important negotiations regarding the control of nuclear weapons, and the U.S. plan for national missile defense. In addition, in recent years, Russia has become one of the world's important exporters of oil-a development that is beginning to provide your country with sorely needed economic growth.

Pakistan: Your country has been on the front line of the U.S. military campaign in Afghanistan. Prior to the war, your government supported the Taliban regime. Many of your people still do. Your country is 97 percent Islamic. A vocal opposition in Pakistan resents the presence of U.S. military on Pakistani soil and opposes the U.S. campaign against Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network. Many outsiders feel that Pakistan is a hotbed of Islamic extremism. Your neighbor India has accused your country of being behind a terrorist attack on the Indian parliament. Both India and Pakistan have mobilized their militaries. Nearly 1 million troops face each other across the border of the disputed province of Kashmir. Your leader, President Musharraf, a military general who took power in a coup, has promised to crack down on extremist groups in Pakistan. Three years ago, your country's relations with the United States took a turn for the worse when you tested a nuclear weapon. Things have changed since September 11. In exchange for Pakistan's cooperation against al Qaeda, the United States has promised Pakistan forgiveness of debt, massive foreign aid, and improved relations. Both India and Pakistan possess nuclear weapons.


India: Your country is the second largest in the world and the world's largest democracy. While you support the U.S. war against terrorism, new American ties with Pakistan concern you. Your country is locked in a long-term dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir. In addition, your country believes that Pakistani-based terrorists were behind the armed suicide attack on your parliament on December 13, 2001. You have been subject to attacks by Islamic militants in Kashmir for years. Current U.S. assistance to Pakistan reminds you of the U.S. military assistance provided to Pakistan during the Cold War. These materials were used by the Pakistani military government to threaten India. Before September 11, it seemed that U.S.-Indian relations were improving. Now you are not sure. The United States has agreed to sell you advanced defensive military equipment to balance its growing ties with Pakistan. You are also concerned about your other powerful neighbor, China. Both India and Pakistan possess nuclear weapons.


Jordan: Jordan is considered a pro-Western country in the Middle East. Yours is one of four countries that have a free-trade agreement with the United States. In 1994, you signed an important peace treaty with Israel. Your king, King Abdullah, has considered sending troops to help the United States battle Osama bin Laden. Nonetheless, you country sits in a volatile location, bordering Israel, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. Many of your citizens do not support the U.S. military campaign or U.S. policies in the Middle East. Your country has important economic relations with Iraq, which sells oil to you at greatly subsidized prices. In addition, you have served as Iraq's business gateway to the rest of the world. With unemployment at 13 percent and your economy so dependent on Iraq, Jordan is concerned about U.S. talk of bringing the war on terrorism to Iraq. Your country is only now beginning to recover from the economic impact of the Gulf War against Iraq in 1991. PBS Interviews:

Philippines: Your government has been a close ally of United States over the years. You consider the economic and strategic partnership with the United States to be your country's most important relationship. Historically, your government supported U.S. military action in the Korean War and Vietnam. Today you are allied with the United States in the war against terrorism and you support its actions to combat Al Qaeda around the globe. Of particular concern to the Phillippines, the terrorist group Abu-Sayaf is based in your country and had known links to Al Qaeda in the early 1990s. You are anxious to have U.S. military assistance to help your own government's troops track down and deal with this group.

Germany: As a member of NATO, your government has been a strong supporter of the United States, though two-thirds of the people of your country opposed the bombing campaign in Afghanistan. Your country served as the site for negotiations regarding the future of Afghanistan. You have offered troops to serve as peacekeepers in Afghanistan. However, both Germany and France are opposed to any expansion of the war to include Iraq. One of your principal concerns is that the United States will not consult adequately with other nations before undertaking further military action. As members of NATO and partners in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, you feel you deserve consultative rights as member of a true multilateral coalition.

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This lesson is excerpted from Responding to Terrorism: Challenges for Democracy (© August 2002, Choices for the 21st Century Education Program, Watson Institute for International Studies, Brown University. All rights reserved.)

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