Archives: March 2003

British Are Announcing That They Have

*The British are announcing that they have taken an important suburb of Basra, al-Qassib, after a fierce firefight with Iraqi military forces. This is said to have been the biggest battle of…

Us Forces Have Recently Begun Bombing

*The US forces have recently begun bombing the Republican Guards near Baghdad, which some think is a sign that Iraq's air defenses have now been substantially degraded. Apache helicopters fly low, and…

British Forces Ringing Basra Have

*The British forces ringing Basra have called on civilians to leave the city. Many are walking to Basra, 12 miles away, in search of water. The British would ideally like to empty…

British Are Asserting That There Has

*The British are asserting that there has been a popular revolt in Basra against the Republican Guards and other forces loyal to Saddam. The Iraqi government has denied the report. The British…

I Saw Interview By Journalist With Some

*I saw an interview by a journalist with some Kurds in the North of Iraq who were complaining about the US invasion of Iraq and bombardment of Baghdad. They said Bush had…

As Usual In War Reporting I Already

*As usual in war reporting, I already have to take back some of what I said yesterday. It seems increasingly clear that the Bush administration rushed into war with Iraq before its…

Basra Fell Early Sunday Morning Est

*Basra fell early Sunday morning EST, Sunday afternoon Baghdad time. Actually what appears to have happened was that the largely British force surrounding the city negotiated its surrender with the Iraqi army…

Well We Found Out Why Ground Troops

*Well, we found out why the ground troops moved in without a preceding air campaign. The air campaign had been planned for Friday, and was not moved up because the US was…

Us 3rd Infantry Division Has Entered

*The US 3rd Infantry Division has entered southern Iraq virtually without opposition. The insertion of some 16,000 or 17,000 men into enemy territory before the air campaign has all us observers baffled.…

Asharq Al Awsat Reports That Hundreds

*Asharq al-Awsat reports that hundreds of "Afghan Arabs" (volunteers, mainly from the Arab world, who had fought the Soviets or with the Taliban in Afghanistan) have gathered in Iraq to carry out…

My Mind And Heart Are Like Those Of So

*My mind and heart are, like those of so many Americans, focused on the Gulf and Iraq tonight. I am thinking about all those brave young men and women in the US…

Httphnn

http://hnn.us/articles/1322.htmlHistory News Network3-17-03: News AbroadWhy You Should Pray that We Don't Bomb the Sites Sacred to Shiites By Juan Cole Most Iraqi Shiites would be overjoyed to see the United States come…

It Appears To Be Case That Iraq Simply has no nuclear weapons program

It appears to be the case that Iraq simply has no nuclear weapons program. Al-Baradei of the IAEC has swept the country with Geiger counters and cannot find evidence of such a…

Pakistani Authorities Have Arrested

*Pakistani authorities have arrested Yasser al-Jaziri, a North African al-Qaeda leader, in the posh Gulburg district of Lahore. They met no resistance after acting on a tip. The report identified him as…

Saudi Based Reporter John R

*Saudi-based reporter John R. Bradley says in the Sidney Morning Herald that the Saudi Defense Minister, Sultan b. Abdul Aziz, has confirmed that "that United States troops have arrived in the northern…

Today Is Ashura Holiest Day Of Shiite

*Today is Ashura', the holiest day of the Shiite Muslim calendar, consecrated to mourning the martyrdom of the Prophet's grandson Husayn. It is a time of religious excitement, and young men often…

Midnights Other Children Reading

Midnight's Other Children: Reading Rushdie in the Middle EastTalk Delivered at a Panel in Honor of the Premiere of Midnight's Children The Play in Ann ArborWednesday, March 12, 2003-Juan ColeWhen I refer…

Pakistani Anti Terrorism Court Has

*A Pakistani anti-terrorism court has remanded `Aqil Ahmad Abdul Quddus, the harborer of Khalid Shaikh Muhammad, to jail. A warrant is out for his father, Dr. Abdul Quddus Khan, who had been…

Pakistani Parliament Has Been Sent Home

*The Pakistani parliament has been sent home by Gen. Pervez Musharraf after having been paralyzed for several days by the chanting and filibustering of opposition politicians. They object to the sweeping powers…

Al Qaeda Leader Reports On Militant Web

*An al-Qaeda leader reports on a militant web site that there were only 1900 "Arab Afghan" fighters in Afghanistan during the US war against the Taliban, and that 350 were killed. This…

Dawn Is Reporting That Computer Files

*Dawn is reporting that the computer files and CDs confiscated from Khalid Shaikh Mohammed on his arrest in Rawalpindi demonstrate the breadth of his networking in the Philippines, Europe and the US.…

Although Arrest Of Khalid Shaikh

Although the arrest of Khalid Shaikh Muhammad, an al-Qaeda mastermind, has raised hopes that the war on terror is bearing fruit, the question of his patron inside Pakistan remains murky and troubling.…

Khalid Shaikh Muhammad Was Planning

*Khalid Shaikh Muhammad was planning further terrorist attacks on the US. These would include, according to Newsweek, hijacking petroleum fuel trucks and smashing them into buildings, and destroying bridges in Washington, DC.…

Pakistani Security Forces Including

*Pakistani security forces, including the Inter-Services Intelligence, conducted a raid in Rawalpindi that netted one of the biggest al-Qaeda fish yet caught. CIA men were also present. Khalid Shaikh Muhammad, one of…

Some 52 Of Israelis Are Skeptical That

*Some 52% of Israelis are skeptical that Israel's new rightwing government put together by Ariel Sharon will achieve peace and prosperity. 33% do not believe it will improve the security situation at…