In The News

Some of Hussein’s Arab Foes Admire His Fight

Neil MacFarquhar March 26, 2003
Saddam Hussein is not well liked in the Arab world. But the US-led war on Iraq is leading to more anti-American sentiment across the Middle East and galvanizing support for Iraqi resistance to US forces. Even the Arab intelligentsia, which has long hoped for the spread of democratic institutions in Middle Eastern countries, is applauding Saddam’s will to fight. "If Saddam's regime is...

Al-Jazeera Site Experiences Hack Attack

Peter Svensson March 25, 2003
The newly launched English language version of Al-Jazeera’s Web site was hit by a "bombardment of data packets." Known as a "denial-of-service attack," the bombardment has rendered the site intermittently unavailable. American hackers are suspected because only the site's American server is affected. The attack may be a response to Al-Jazeera's broadcast of U.S....

TV Appearance Convinces US Hussein Is Alive

Dana Priest March 25, 2003
Despite early targeted attacks of Saddam Hussein's bunkers, American officials are now convinced that the Iraqi leader is still alive. A videotaped recording of Hussein is believed to be recent, not pre-recorded as was earlier thought. Email communications and cell phone "attacks" aimed at Hussein's military commanders continue, in hopes that if further American bombing...

Halliburton Charges Into Iraq

Jeff Fischer March 25, 2003
American soldiers rushing into Iraq on military missions are only a short distance ahead of American oil and construction companies. US Vice President Dick Cheney's former employer, Halliburton, has been granted a contract from the US Army to work on the reconstruction of post-war Iraq. Other US companies are also expected to get lucrative deals once the US military secures Iraq. –...

With New Technology, US Tries Out New Way to Make War

Joseph Fitchett March 24, 2003
Improvements in the technology used in military conflicts is changing the nature of military strategy. During the first Gulf War, the U.S. launched sequential major attacks across expansive fronts and engaged in direct combat to dismantle Iraqi defenses. Now, the strategy has shifted to one of 'simultaneous attacks' – coalition forces are using precision-weaponry to destroy...

Al Qaeda Near Biological, Chemical Arms Production

Barton Gellman March 23, 2003
The global terrorist network al Qaeda has much more detailed plans to develop chemical and biological weapons than US investigators knew, says this report in the Washington Post. Interrogations of recently-arrested Khalid Sheik Mohammed, known as "the Brain" within al Qaeda, have yielded plans to produce anthrax and cyanide, among other agents. Although it has not yet been confirmed...

Shock and Awe and a Clash of Cultures

Harlan Ullman March 23, 2003
Harlan Ullman, co-author of "Shock and Awe: Achieving Rapid Dominance", explains here that the philosophy behind the 'shock and awe' doctrine currently being employed by the US in Iraq is "to win decisively, rapidly and inexpensively in terms of human life and the ravages of war." "The method," he says, "is the same and akin to karate: the application...