Washington Watch Articles From 1998
NETANYAHU’S BIG BANG
In Israel they are calling it the “big bang” and by that they do not mean merely the collapse of the Netanyahu government.
A CONFUSING WEEK
This has been an extraordinary week of conflicting events and confusing emotions.
THE RACE TO 2000
The 2000 race for the U.S. Presidency is about to begin. It will gain in momentum during the next few months.
WHEN CLINTON GOES TO GAZA
The Wye process is in a shambles. Nevertheless, when President Clinton travels to Gaza next week to address a meeting of the Palestine National Council (PNC), analysts throughout the Middle East will debate the meaning and significance of the visit.
THREE VISITS AND THEIR IMPACT
During the next month the Middle East will host a number of prominent American political leaders. Some of these visits could play an important role in reshaping the U.S. discussion of the Middle East conflict.
REPUBLICANS AND IMPEACHMENT
The Republican Party is in a quandary. On the one hand it is clear that the Republicans’ impeachment strategy backfired in the 1998 elections.
CAMPAIGN AGAINST CHEMICAL & BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS MUST BE CONSISTENT
Last August the United States destroyed a Sudanese pharmaceutical plant mistakenly suspected of producing chemical and biological weapons (CBW).
WINNERS AND LOSERS IN THE 1998 ELECTIONS
The 1998 elections are over and the Republican Party remains in control of both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives.
CIVIL RIGHTS,FOREIGN POLICY TOP ARAB AMERICAN CONCERNS
As an American political constituency, Arab Americans have two major sets of issues that drive the community’s agenda: civil rights and U.S. policy in the Middle East.
WILL CLINTON’S TRIUMPH AT WYE SAVE MIDDLE EAST PEACE?
The nine-day ordeal at the Wye Plantation produced an agreement that can only be described as Bill Clinton’s triumph.
IN AN ELECTION VOTES ARE POWER
This year’s election will be decided by voter turnout. At the end of the day that is all that counts.
THE MEANEST AND DIRTIEST CAMPAIGN
New York State will be the scene of this year’s meanest and ugliest Senate race. Republican Senator Al D’Amato, long known for his ruthless campaign tactics, has met his match.
OUR ADVICE TO MADELEINE ALBRIGHT
In recent discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and other White House and State Department officials, Arab Americans have presented a consensus view on the current state of U.S.-Middle East policy.
THE UNPREDICTABLE 1998 ELECTIONS
As they are occurring under the cloud of the continuing preoccupation with the President’ scandal, this November’s congressional elections will be both unique and unpredictable.
THE CONSUMING SCANDAL
The Independent Counsel’s (IC) report on the President’s scandal hit Washington like a hurricane last week—and the storm is not over yet.
ARAB AMERICAN RESPONSIBILITIES
Arab Americans have a full political agenda for fall 1998. As the community continues to advance into the U.S. political mainstream, it is required to operate on several fronts simultaneously.
VIOLENCE AND THREATS ARE NOT THE RESPONSE TO INJUSTICE
The U.S. response to the attacks on its embassies in Kenya and Tanzania was morally, politically and legally wrong.
CLINTON’S TROUBLES
President Clinton’s political crisis is by no means over. In fact, it may soon become more complicated and difficult.
U.S. BOMBINGS BACKFIRE
In the most recent round fought between the United States and those shadowy murderers who bombed the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, the winner, tragically, may well have been the terrorists.
REAL DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE
The Lewinsky affair comes to a head this week with the President’s testimony before a Washington grand jury.