Politics

The U.S. and the Middle East

In a speech Thursday, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice said the U.S. has a responsibility to help transform predominantly Islamic Middle Eastern countries into democracies. Margaret Warner discusses whether America is ready for this commitment.

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Shields and Brooks: The Week’s Political Developments

Ray Suarez discusses the week's political developments with syndicated columnist Mark Shields and The Weekly Standard's David Brooks.

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Shields and Brooks: Democratic Presidential Candidates

Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the crop of Democratic presidential candidates, next year's presidential election and former Vice President Al Gore's recent criticism of President Bush.

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West Nile Cases Triple in Past Week, CDC Reports

The number of West Nile virus cases in 2003 has tripled since last week and may eventually surpass the total for last year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday.

Schwarzenegger, Key Democrat Join Race to Replace Davis

Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante and columnist Arianna Huffington, all announced candidacies for the governorship of California late Wednesday night.

Israel Frees Prisoners, Palestinians Call Move Inadequate

Israel moved to free more than 300 Palestinian prisoners Wednesday, calling it a goodwill gesture to aid peace efforts. Palestinian leaders criticized the move, saying many thousands more in custody need to be released.

Death Toll in Hopsital Bombing Near Chechnya Rises to 50

A powerful vehicle bomb blast destroyed a Russian military hospital near the breakaway republic of Chechnya Friday, killing at least 50 and wounding some 70 others.

African Peacekeepers Set for Liberian Deployment

West African leaders agreed Thursday to deploy a force to war-torn Liberia by Monday and called for the country's embattled president to go into exile within three days of the peacekeepers' arrival.

North Korea Indicates Possible Support for Multilateral Talks

North Korea has proposed multilateral talks involving itself, the United States, China, Japan, South Korea and Russia to break the ongoing diplomatic stalemate over the country's nuclear weapons program.

Iraq Could Hold Elections Next Summer

Elections that could replace Iraq's interim government and end U.S. occupation of the country could be held as early as next summer, the chief U.S. civil administrator in Iraq said Thursday.