In The News

Iraqis Celebrations Help Justify the War

John Vinocur April 10, 2003
As Iraqis celebrate the toppling of Saddam’s regime, the US led coalition contemplates the fate of post-war Iraq

No Regrets in a Suburb Named After the Despot

Andrew Buncombe April 10, 2003
Ironic that a Baghdad suburb named after Saddam Hussein is home to a population that vehemently opposes him. The residents of Saddam City belong to the minority Shia sect and live in poverty. The attack on Iraq has provided the residents with a much over-due opportunity to publicly denounce Saddam. For the poor in Saddam City, the attacks are also an occasion to celebrate, by mass lootings of...

The Images they Choose, and Choose to Ignore

Robert Jensen April 10, 2003
Why are images of Iraqi casualties of the war available to anyone in the world with internet access but not on US television screens? Al Jazeera reporter Robert Jensen asks news networks like CNN why they will not show the whole picture. He also warns that the most popular image of the war – the toppling of Saddam’s statue – should not be taken so literally; “joy over the removal of Hussein does...

Betrayal on All Sides

John R. Bradley April 9, 2003
The US has proved what many already knew: few armies, let alone any in the Middle East, can withstand its power. But before the ticker tape parades and triumphal marches, the costs of US victory in terms of Arab self-esteem need to be weighed. Such a sound defeat of Arab soldiers could spell years of disenchantment for the Arab psyche. Furthermore, as the writer suggests, the ‘roadmap for peace’...

The Political Battles to Come After the War

Rami G. Khouri April 9, 2003
The military part of the Iraq war may soon be over, but the US faces greater struggles ahead. First, the US’s moral high ground is tainted. As the author asserts of the US plan to bring good governance to Iraq, “Killing to promote life is a morally flawed and politically obtuse policy.” Second, its policy of pre-emption, no longer mere rhetoric, sends a grave message to the rest of the Middle...

US Honeymoon may be Brief

April 9, 2003
Many Iraqis may express joy at being free from the terror of Saddam Hussein, but it would be wrong to confuse this joy with support for a US occupation of Iraq. In the coming weeks, the US has hard choices to make and should take care not to allow history to repeat itself. In this editorial, the lead up to the Iraqi invasion is compared to Israel’s invasion of Lebanon, with surprising...

Arab Media Confront the ‘New Rules of the Game’

Jefferson Morley April 9, 2003
As US soldiers become a regular presence in Baghdad, Arab emotions are higher than ever. This Washington Post staff reporter surveys current images and opinions expressed in various Arab media outlets. While the reaction is varied – from surprise at the quick downfall of Baghdad to worries about Iraq’s future after the war to comparing Bush to Hitler – it is united in is skepticism of US actions...