Ambassador of Tajikistan Khamrokhon Zaripov Tiny Tajikistan Makes Its Mark by Proximity by Larry Luxner Most Americans can barely pronounce the name of his country, let alone find it on a world map. But after 9/11 and the war in neighboring Afghanistan, tiny Tajikistan is more important than ever to policymakers in Washington. Khamrokhon Zaripov, Tajikistanís ambassador to the United States, says that before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, ìnobody knew anything about Central Asia.î Few people knew, for example, that Tajikistanópronounced Tah-ji-ki-stanóhad the lowest per-capita income of any of the 15 former Soviet republics upon independence in 1991. Or that within a year, Tajikistanís secular government had become embroiled in a brutal civil war with Islamic conservatives that lasted until 1997. Or that Tajikistan is the only Islamic country in the world that has since established a coalition government with those very same Islamic fundamentalists...more... Undersecretary of State John Bolton Hard-Edged Bush Official Helps Craft Foreign Policy by John Shaw John Bolton recalled that he was once introduced as Americaís undersecretary of state for the ìaxis of evil.î He said the introduction, though not technically accurate, was understandable given his work on policies to confront the regimes of Iraq, Iran, North Korea and other nations the United States has accused of supporting terrorism and exporting deadly weapons. Bolton, whose real title is undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, is a forceful advocate for some of the Bush administrationís most assertive and controversial policies. Straightforward, serious and precise, Bolton outlines the administrationís agenda in clear, often stark terms. He does not engage in indirection, use euphemisms or offer apologies...more.... Influential Council on Foreign Relations Refutes Partisan Criticism, Conspiracy Theories by Sean OíDriscoll In July, the State Departmentís director of policy planning, Richard Haass, resigned his post to take over the presidency of the Council on Foreign Relations, arguably the worldís most influential foreign policy think tank. The fact that one of Secretary of State Colin Powellís closest advisers is willing to leave his post to take over as president of the council is testament to the organizationís immense influence. It is, as Haass said, an opportunity he could not pass up...more....

Culture Section Check out the arts section for the latest in museum exhibits, dance, theater and much more. See the August 2003 Medical Insert: Medical Section Israel, Palestine Differ on Navigating Road Map to Peace in Middle East by Larry Luxner Is the Intifada over? Is peace about to break out between Israel and the Arab world? Daniel Ayalon, Israelís ambassador to the United States, certainly thinks itís possibleóas long as Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas contains radical terrorist groups, Jewish settlers are allowed to stay in the West Bank, Jerusalem remains under Israeli control, and Yasser Arafat is kept out of the limelight. ìI donít think itís wishful thinking to say that the new Palestinian leadership understands that terror has not brought them anything. On the contrary, it has set them back,î Ayalon told The Washington Diplomat in a recent interview...more... Speeding Through Spain Audi A4 Cabriolet Enhances Barcelona Travel Experience by Karl Ferguson BARCELONAóThe doorman at the Hotel Ritz seemed a little perplexed as I powered down the roof of my Audi A4 Cabriolet. It was a truly gorgeous morning: The sun was shining, there was just a hint of a breeze, and the wide streets of Barcelona beckoned invitingly...more... SEE RELATED STORY: Beetle Juice VW Convertible Attractive and Sporty Little Package