The Fletcher School - Views on News

Peter Ryan, Executive Vice President of Global Sales and Services for Sun Microsystems, discusses the recession’s impact on the technology sector as well as the role technology companies can play in furthering economic development in emerging markets. Did the tech sector’s experience with the dot com bust provide any “lessons learned” for dealing with the [...]

Earlier this week, the International Crisis Group released a report warning of an increased threat of violence between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Filmon gives some perspectives from the Eritrean side, and comments on recent border clashes between Eritrea and Djibouti. Finally, Filmon tells Eve some perceptions of US involvement in the Horn of Africa.

How does the current “credit crunch” in the US relate to the subprime mortgage crisis and unemployment? What mechanisms is the government using to intervene in a possible cycle of negative feedback? What are Eve’s prospects for employment after graduation in May?

Professor Nasr discusses the recent news in Basra with regard to Prime Minister Maliki and Moqtada al-Sadr. He also addresses recent elections in Pakistan and Iran. Are Musharraf’s days numbered? What are the implications of the conservative consolidation in Iran? Finally, Professor Nasr weighs in on who is the better interviewer: Eve or Stephen Colbert?

Shahla discusses Iranian President Ahmadinejad’s recent visit to Iraq. What was achieved? What did the visit represent? What issues still remain unresolved in Iraq-Iran relations? Finally, Shahla tells Eve who she is supporting for the 2008 US presidential election and why.

Claire discusses the issue of children in armed conflict and her work with the NGO Catalyst for Peace. What has the Special Court achieved in convicting former child recruiters? How are former child combatants in Sierra Leone being rehabilitated and reintegrated into society?

In a roundup of recent news, Professor Lavdas comments on the Greek Prime Minister’s recent official visit to Turkey, the vote to lift the ban on headscarves in Turkish universities, and changes in Kosovo’s status.

Professor Salacuse discusses his new book, Seven Secrets for Negotiating with Government, and shares the ways that negotiating with governments is unlike any other type of negotiations.

Major Zeman discusses a range of issues facing the Marine Corps today, including the proposal to shift Marines from Iraq to Afghanistan, changing dynamics within Iraq, and the role of the Armenian genocide resolution in the US Congress, as it affects US-Turkish relations.

Eve interviews Stephen Grey, winner of the 2007 Overseas Press Club of America’s Dine award for best international reporting on human rights in any medium, about his book and upcoming PBS documentary (http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/rendition701/). What was the rendition program designed to achieve? What is it actually achieving? For more information about Ghost Plane: http://ghostplane.net/