Washington Watch Articles From 2001
LOOKING BACK AT 2001
2001 began awkwardly. It seemed from the beginning that this was not destined to be a good year. As the year began here in Washington, there were signs of problems, on both the domestic and international fronts.
STILL A DANGEROUS TIME
Sometimes it feels as if we are living on the edge. The wounds of September 11 are still open, the anthrax scare continues to grow, and now the nation’s leaders are warning of credible threats of new terrorist attacks.
LESSONS LEARNED
On Thursday, I waited in line for four hours to be tested for anthrax. On Monday, I had been in the area of the US Senate building where the bacteria had been found.
U.S. ATTITUDES AND THE CURRENT CRISIS
One month after the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, President George Bush retains the strong support of a significant percentage of American voters.
THE JEFFORDS’ SWITCH
Taking advantage of the last few days of Republican control of both houses of Congress, President George W. Bush passed a reduced version of his tax cut proposal last week.
ISRAELI ATTITUDES TOWARDS SHARON, ISRAEL, ARABS AND PEACE
Months of sustained conflict have deepened the rift between Israel’s Arab and Jewish citizens and intensified the political malaise felt by Israelis in general.
NEW QUESTIONS ABOUT FEITH
Just one month ago, I wrote about President Bush’s nomination of Douglas Feith to the position of Undersecretary of Policy at the Department of Defense (DOD/Pentagon).
JIMMY CARTER: OUR GREATEST EX-PRESIDENT
When American Presidents leave office, the battle for their legacy begins. Historians debate their contributions, reporters examine their records and the public weighs their memories.
A DANGEROUS APPOINTMENT
Douglas J. Feith has been appointed Undersecretary of Policy at the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD).
A TOUGH WEEK FOR A NEW PRESIDENT
This was a difficult week for President George W. Bush. On the domestic front the President lost two important votes in the U.S. Senate, while confronting his first major foreign policy challenge with China.
SHARON COMES TO WASHINGTON
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon left Washington feeling somewhat satisfied and emboldened. The goals he had set for the visit had been modest.
CLINTON’S LEGACY
I say, give the man his due. In recent weeks, Arab disappointment with President Clinton’s last ditch peace making effort has prompted a loud chorus of bitter attacks.
ABRAHAMAND DANIELS:TWO ARAB AMERICANSIN THE BUSH CABINET
If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, E. Spencer Abraham and Mitchell E. Daniels will become members of the Cabinet of the incoming Bush Administration.
NEW YEAR BEGINS WITH HIGH RATINGS FOR KUWAIT, SAUDI ARABIA & EGYPT
Favorability ratings for Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have reached their highest levels in a recent poll of U.S. voters.
U.S. OPINIONAND THEISRAELI-PALESTINIANCONFLICT
Even with Israeli’s public relations effort to contain the negative fallout from its current crisis with the Palestinians, American public opinion continues to signal its support for a balanced approach to resolving the Middle East conflict.