In The News

Saddam Urged to Make an Exit

Mahmoud Ahmad February 18, 2003
There has been speculation about persuading Saddam Hussein to go into exile to avoid a war. However there is no official confirmation about such a move. A leading Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadh has now called on the Iraqi leader to ward off US attack by stepping down from power. The paper said that it would be ’a wise and even heroic decision’ and would help erase the previous moral and legal...

The Godfather’s War

Amira Howeidy February 17, 2003
Former Saudi Arabian Oil Minister Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani, who shot to international fame during the oil embargo of 1973, says that a US-led war on Iraq would be about everything but weapons control. US president George Bush’s true motivations, Yamani said, are controlling world oil supplies, ensuring Israel's survival and political gain, and winning a second term in the Oval Office....

The Righteous War

Immanuel Wallerstein February 15, 2003
What is really behind the Bush administration’s big push to wage war on Iraq? Is it about removing a tyrant hell-bent on using his weapons of mass destruction? Or is it a US move to gain more control over the oil resources in the Middle East? Sociologist theorist Immanuel Wallerstein argues that both of these interpretations are flawed. The motivation to go war, he says, is really about...

Poll Shows Most Want War Delay

Patrick E. Tyler February 14, 2003
With world powers squabbling over military action in Iraq, a new poll shows that President Bush may still have work to do to convince his own citizens that war is an immediate necessity. While a majority of Americans support military action against Iraq, 59% think that the United Nations should be given more time to carry out weapons inspections. And Americans continue to worry about the threat...

Less Sheep for Sharing

Injy El-Kashef February 13, 2003
The sacrifice of sheep traditionally marks the Islamic celebration of Eid Al-Adha. For Muslims, the sacrifice is a non-obligatory act of charity, with those of all classes donating a share of their sheep to the less fortunate. In Egypt, however, recent economic troubles have interfered with the celebration. The floatation of the Egyptian pound and its subsequent decline in value in relation to...

Arab Press Welcomes NATO Split

February 12, 2003
Newspapers around the Arab world are joyful at the split that has occurred between the US and its NATO allies Germany, Belgium, and France. The three countries have stated their opposition to protecting Turkey, a fellow NATO member, arguing that to promise it even defensive support would mean encouraging a US-led war on Iraq. Interpreting the three countries' move as support of Arab...

Reform Begins At Home

Rasha Saad February 11, 2003
In the past few weeks, Saudi Arabia’s leaders have allowed officials from Human Rights Watch to visit their country, encouraged popular participation and tolerance, and signaled a willingness to pursue a more moderate state. But, as this article explains, both domestically and internationally Saudi Arabia is attempting a delicate balancing act and faces an uncertain political future. – YaleGlobal