From Our Own Correspondent

ABILENE, TEXAS February 2006

President Bush this week announced an ambitious new energy policy. He wants oil from the Middle East to become a thing of the past with imports from there cut by 75 per cent within twenty years. More money would be spent on alternative technologies and Americans would have to end their addiction to oil. […]

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RABAT, MOROCCO December 2005

Throughout the year, the United States has hailed a series of elections in the Arab world – the latest in Iraq – as evidence that its foreign policy is getting results. But what can democracy really offer ordinary people? […]

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NEW MEXICO November 2005

Soon America’s Hispanic community is expected to make up a quarter of the population with a thousand billion dollars of spending power. But still many millions are living in poverty without citizenship or many of their basic needs met. And there’s where America’s missionaries step in. […]

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SEATTLE July 2005

As millions queue up to get rights to live in the United States, a new economic survey has found that you have less chance of getting rich in America than in much of Europe and developing world. The Centre for Economic Performance in London found that in Europe you have almost twice as much chance of breaking out, raising the question about how much of a myth is the American Dream. […]

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BEIRUT April 2005

Political tension has mounted in Lebanon since the killing in February of the former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri who did much to rebuild the country after its 15-year civil war. What is the risk of fresh conflict there? […]

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BEYPAZARI, TURKEY, February 2005

Washington is hailing recent developments in the Middle East as a success for its campaign to bring democracy to the region, and it is asking its Islamic and Arab allies in to take a greater lead. One of the key players it would like to bring on board in Turkey, which it holds up as a successful and functioning democracy. HH went there to examine whether it would work. […]

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LANCASTER, OHIO, December, 2004

For many Republicans, Christianity and support for President George W Bush go hand-in-hand, but if the two begin to clash, will the friendship continue? […]

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GEORGETOWN, September 2004

While George W Bush and John Kerry fight out their campaigns in the US, hundreds of millions of people throughout the world – who have no vote – wait on tenterhooks for the result. American foreign policy has a global reach such as never before – although much of it is made within a few city blocks in Washington where advisers and policy makers live and work – and might well have been educated. […]

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BAALBEK, LEBANON, July 2004

Twenty years ago another Middle Eastern country was ravaged by the sort of factional civil war which many now could grip Iraq. But now – Lebanon holds regular elections that changes leaders – yet it is the home turf for one of the most successful and violent Islamic militias – the Hizbolah – blamed by America blames for suicide bombings, kidnappings and links to Iran. […]

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BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA June 2004

As America prepares for its November presidential election, civil rights are turning their attention to the raft of new laws brought in to fight terror after the September 11th acts. Central to these are the politically named USA Patriot Act which gives intelligence agencies new powers to keep watch on American citizens. It has been condemned as dragging America back into it dark modern history – when the FBI was used to itimidate suspected communists and anti-war protesters. […]

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