Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction: Doubts and Uncertainties
By Sara Khorshid, Islam Online, November 11, 2002  
A very tense Middle East gets tenser as the United States continues to rally support for an imminent attack on Iraq. Iraq’s supposed possession of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) is the center-point of the United States’ argument towards the “necessity” of toppling Saddam Hussein.
According to the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) intelligence resource program, 34 countries possess weapons of mass destruction. Weapons of mass destruction may be nuclear, chemical, or biological. They are distinguished from conventional weapons by their enormous potential lethality and by their relative lack of discrimination as to whom they kill. When deployed to ballistic missiles, these weapons can be fired from the home territory of one state and wreak great destruction to the home territory of another.

Ali, a Dead Journalist Walking
By Ramzy Baroud, Palestine Chronicle, November 11, 2002
SEATTLE (PC) - There is journalism, and there is heroism. Ali Samudi, excels in both. His name is always associated with Jenin. He was born and raised there. His home, at the entrance of the refugee camp, a humble house, partly unfinished is a center of communication. He can track the atrocities of his camp by dates, names and numbers, without resorting to a search engine or piles of archived articles. He was there too during a massacre, a massacre of which he was a witness. Ali is a cameraman, whose work is often used by Reuters. In Jenin he is simply known as “Ali the Journalist”. And no one can convey the news in Jenin like “Ali the journalist”.

Bush's Iraq plans: Reincarnation of failed 1930s British policy
By Issam Nashashibi and Abdelatif Rayan, YellowTimes, November 9, 2002
(YellowTimes.org) – By all U.S. media accounts, Saddam Hussein's days are numbered. Moreover, Pentagon pundits predict a massive U.S. victory over Saddam's rusty military machine. Will Bush's Iraq policy bring a real victory to crown America's hegemony in the Middle East and elsewhere? Could history be our guide? Bush's Iraq policy is reminiscent of the 1930s British "re-occupation" of Iraq. By March 1921, almost four years after they invaded Mesopotamia, the British created Iraq as a new entity managed by "a suitable Arab" who was a member of the Hashemite clan, King Faisal I. In addition, the British supported and promoted narrowly based groups - such as tribal leaders - over the growing, urban-based nationalist movement. In pursuing this policy, the British were attempting to achieve their military objectives of securing their route to India and controlling strategic oil sources. By the mid-1930s, Iraq exported oil via a pipeline to refineries in Haifa, Palestine.

Everybody loves Arik
By Yoel Marcus, Ha'aretz, November 12, 2002 
Were there an Israeli version of the TV series "Everybody Loves Raymond," I would call it "Everybody Loves Arik." Not because it would be funnier but because it would be weirder. During Sharon's 20 months in office, the country has skidded downhill in every possible sphere: The economy is six-feet under. More Israelis have been killed in Mr. Security's day than under any other prime minister. The man has never come up with a peace initiative. We've been turned into untouchables in the eyes of just about the whole world. And despite it all, everybody still loves Arik.
According to all the polls and all the data, and that includes gut feelings, Sharon will clobber Bibi and Labor combined, and climb back into the prime minister's seat. We could add another line to an old refrain: Those who didn't want Sharon as prime minister once will get him as prime minister twice.

Because we are Jews
By Rabbi Mordechi Weberman, March For Justice
Delivered by Rabbi Mordechi Weberman under the auspices of the Palestine Right of Return Coalition (Al-Awda NY/NJ), at the march in front of the Israeli Consulate, on Friday July 26, 2002:  There are those who ask us why we march with the Palestinians. Why do we raise the Palestinian flag? Why do we support the Palestinian cause? “You are Jews!” they tell us. What are you doing? And our response, which I’d like to share with you this afternoon, is very simple. IT IS PRECISELY BECAUSE WE ARE JEWS THAT WE MARCH WITH THE PALESTINIANS AND RAISE THEIR FLAG! IT IS PRECISELY BECAUSE WE ARE JEWS THAT WE DEMAND THAT THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLES BE RETURNED TO THEIR HOMES AND PROPERTIES! Yes, in our Torah we are commanded to be fair. We are called upon to pursue justice. And, what could be more unjust then the century old attempt of the Zionist movement to invade an other people’s land, to drive them out and steal their property?

Still waiting for No 242
By Paul Foot, The Guardian, November 13, 2002
Triumphant photographs in the newspapers showing all 15 members of the UN security council voting unanimously for the US-UK resolution on Iraq reminded me of a similar picture that dominated my parents' home for a decade. My father, Hugh Foot, later Lord Caradon, was for most of his life a colonial servant. He helped to haul down the Union Jack in Nigeria, where he was chief secretary, and in Jamaica and Cyprus, where he was governor. By far his proudest achievement was as UK representative to the UN in 1967 when he managed, after five months of delicate and dedicated negotiation, to persuade all 15 members of the security council to vote for resolution 242. He had the photograph of the vote framed, and it sat proudly on his desk until he died in 1990.