FEATURES
UK military
expects the go-ahead for Iraq war within a month
Military strategists believe Saddam Hussein could be toppled by his own army shortly
before or in early stages of an attack
By Kim Sengupta
The Independent
Britain's military forces are expected to be given Downing Street's go-ahead by the
end of this month to prepare for a war with Iraq. It will take two months from then,
and £90m, to get the army's chief battle tank, Challenger 2, "desertised"
for combat, and move other equipment and manpower into place, senior Whitehall sources
said.
Bush
says action against Saddam cannot wait
By Rupert Cornwell in Washington and John Lichfield in Paris
The Independent
President George Bush last night took his case against Saddam Hussein directly to
the American people, insisting that the Iraqi leader was a "unique" threat
to US security and world peace who must be dealt with now. In his first primetime
address devoted exclusively to Iraq, Mr Bush warned that "the time for delaying,
denying and deceiving had come to an end". Either President Saddam gives up
his weapons of mass destruction, or the United States "will lead a coalition
to disarm him", he said.
Fourteen
die after Israelis launch missile into crowd
By Justin Huggler in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip
The Independent
Fourteen Palestinians were killed yesterday on a day when an Israeli helicopter fired
a rocket into a crowd in Khan Younis that included women and children. As the wounded
were arriving in hospital, Israeli guns opened up on the hospital, killing one man
and wounding three others. And within hours, four more Palestinians were dead after
fighting between Hamas militants and Palestinian security forces loyal to Yasser
Arafat flared. Palestinian police last night held 60 Hamas gunmen under siege in
Nusseirat refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. Onlookers were attacking the police with
stones.
Defaming
Islam
Editorial
Washington Post
ONE OF THE high-water marks after Sept. 11 last year was President Bush's leadership
in urging Americans not to condemn Islam because of the actions of extremists in
the name of their faith.... And despite several highly publicized incidents of threats
and lashing out at people thought to be Muslim, most Americans have heeded the president's
message, resisting the ugly lure of religious intolerance and hate. The same, however,
cannot be said of some key leaders of the religious right in America who are counted
among President Bush's closest political allies. And on their noxious mix of religious
bigotry and anti-Muslim demagoguery, Mr. Bush's silence is deafening.
A revolution
crumbles
Alongside the boys of the Islamic militia, eager for martyrdom, there is another
Iran - of rock bands and weblogs, teenage runaways and prostitution. Tim Judah investigates
Tehran's underground.
The Guardian
In Iran something has to give. I went looking for what it was. I took a taxi to the
north of Tehran. I had heard that this was where I could find the secret basement.
In an ordinary street at an ordinary block I rang the buzzer. I opened the door,
went inside and suddenly it hit me. From somewhere, deep in the depths, I could hear
music. It was coming from underground - literally - a rich mix of western rock and
eastern melody.
Twelve
Palestinians Killed as Israeli Missile Hits Crowd
By Ibrahim Barzak
Associated Press
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip -- Israeli troops raiding this town with tanks and helicopters
killed 12 Palestinians early Monday, including 10 who died when a missile slammed
into a large crowd. Palestinian officials said all the dead were civilians, while
the Israeli army said most were armed men killed in battle. About 110 Palestinians
were wounded in the four-hour raid, including 25 who were in critical condition,
doctors said. Most suffered shrapnel wounds in the head, chest and abdomen. The dead
ranged in age from 14 to 52.
A terrorist filmmaker?
Editorial
The New York Times
It's a mystery what the Bush administration thought it was protecting Americans from
when it denied a timely visa to Iran's leading film director, Abbas Kiarostami. Surely
not international embarrassment.
The idea that the U.S. government is incapable of distinguishing between a potential
terrorist and a renowned 62-year-old filmmaker is not flattering to America's intelligence
capacities or its reputation for cultural literacy.
Nato
used the same old trick when it made Milosevic an offer he could only refuse
By Robert Fisk
The Independent
It's the same old trap. Nato used exactly the same trick to ensure that it could
have a war with Slobodan Milosevic. Now the Americans are demanding the same of Saddam
Hussein ñ buried well down in their list of demands, of course. Tell your enemy that
you're going to need his roads and airspace ñ with your troops on the highways ñ
and you destroy his sovereignty. That's what Nato demanded of Serbia in 1999. That's
what the new UN resolution touted by Messrs Bush and Blair demands of Saddam Hussein.
It's a declaration of war.
Iraqi
Groups Push for Interim Government
Washington Post
Iraqi opposition figures criticized the Bush administration yesterday for not moving
more quickly to set plans for post-Saddam Hussein Iraq, as the leader of the Iraqi
National Congress called for a provisional government to be established as soon as
U.S. forces challenge Hussein's regime, if not before. Ahmed Chalabi, whose ambitions
to lead such a government are no secret, said an interim authority backed by the
United States would be in a position to entice Iraqi defectors, fill a power vacuum
and set a course for democratic elections. It would give army units unwilling to
fight for Hussein "a home to go to," said the London-based Chalabi.
Hill
Leaders Back Iraq Pact
By Karen DeYoung
Washington Post
President Bush gained strong congressional support yesterday for a bipartisan resolution
authorizing the use of military force against Iraq, and warned Baghdad that it is
running out of time to bend to American will. Flanked by dozens of lawmakers in the
Rose Garden, Bush announced an agreement with House leaders on a new resolution text
that addressed some of the concerns raised about an earlier version. Although the
Senate remained divided on the measure, opponents of granting Bush the broad authority
he seeks conceded they were likely fighting a losing battle.
Canada poised to ease pot
laws
By Eric Beaudan
Christian Science Monitor
TORONTO - On the heels of a Canadian
Senate report recommending the full legalization of marijuana, Prime Minister Jean
Chrétien signaled Monday that he may ease Canada's cannabis laws. In the annual
Speech from the Throne, Canada's federal policy document (akin to the US State of
the Union address), the Chrétien government said it may move toward decriminalization.
Legalization would not be possible because of Canada's existing international agreements
that prohibit it, the government said.
Iran's
leading filmmaker denied U.S. visa
Director Abbas Kiarostami, one of international cinema's biggest names, is blocked
from attending the New York Film Festival and speaking at Harvard.
By Andrew O'Hehir
Salon.com
Sept. 27, 2002 -- Abbas Kiarostami, the Iranian filmmaker who is widely considered
one of the world's greatest living directors, has been denied a visa to enter the
United States. Kiarostami had been invited to attend the New York Film Festival,
where his new movie "Ten" will premiere on Sunday, and then to lecture
at Harvard and at Ohio State University. Kiarostami, 62, has written and directed
some 30 movies since the early 1970s, and has been compared by critics to such titans
of international cinema as Ingmar Bergman and Akira Kurosawa. He won the Palme d'Or
at the Cannes Film Festival -- perhaps the movie world's most cherished prize --
for his 1997 film "A Taste of Cherry."
Storm
blows up after Kiarostami hits US visa snag
PARIS, Oct 2 (AFP) - The United States' stringent new rules for visa applicants --
especially those from Muslim countries -- has blown up into political/cultural storm
after a talented Iranian director was unable to get permission in time to attend
New York's film festival. Abbas Kiarostami, winner of Cannes' Palme d'Or in 1997
for "A Taste of Cherry" who has previously visited the United States seven
times, was told by the US embassy in Paris last month he could not get a visa before
December -- well after the September 27-October 13 event in New York.
An Open Letter
to the Members of Congress
Editorial
The Nation
Soon, you will be asked to vote on a resolution authorizing the United States to
overthrow the government of Iraq by military force. Its passage, we read on all sides,
is a foregone conclusion, as if what the country now faces is not a decision but
the disclosure of a fate. The nation marches as if in a trance to war. |
WIRE REPORTS
* Britain's
Straw in Iran to Press for Iraq
* CNN's
Amanpour Barred from Visiting Iran
* Iran,
Turkey extend gas deal
* US
attack poses "greater threat to region than Iraq"
* State
Department criticizes Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Sudan
* Iran
To Cut Foreign Nationals From Airline, Shipping Jobs
* Iran
Reformists Threaten to Resign
* Straw
set for dressing down in Iran
* Iran
Won't Treat Stray U.S Warplanes as Enemy
* Top
conservative hits out at Khatami reform bid
* U.S.
Arrests 4 on Terror Charges
* Shoe
Bomb Suspect Pleads Guilty
* Iran's
Majlis reveals it was behind US-Iran opinion poll
* Iran
Pollster Issues New Poll on U.S. Amid Uproar
* Iran
culture official jailed after famous actress kisses young actor
* 'New
US immigration checks will inspire Muslim hatred'
* Polling
institute closed for surveying opinion on the US
* Student
group demands classmates be freed
* "Iran
will not militarily oppose US attack on Iraq"
* IRNA
under heavy fire for publishing US opinion pol
* Iran
moves to top of its group in Asian Games soccer
* U.S.
Threat to Islamic World, Iraq Tells Iran
* Two
political figures sentenced to 6, 30 months jail, flogs
* Iran
Hangs Five Rapists in Public
* "Saddam's
overthrow will be 'happiest day' for Iran"
* Newspaper
blasts Khatami's bid to increase powers
* Iran
Says Al Qaeda Camp Claim Is Baseless
* Report:
U.S. Detects Al Qaeda Camp in Iran
* UK Foreign Minister
to visit Iran
* Iran
Starts Mass Production of Missiles
* Khatami
Challenges Hard-liners with Bill
* "Khatami
may quit if hard-liners block changes"
* Iranian
film-maker awarded German prize for runaways
* Iran
Accepts New British Ambassador, Ending Rift
* Defense
minister says Russia sells Iran only defensive weapons
* Russia
says it will finish Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran by the end of 2003
* Iran
Cleric Accuses Qatar of Treason
* Russia:
Iran dragging feet on nuclear waste agreement
* Iran
wins friendly soccer tournament, Morocco finishes third
* Iran's
FM urges the US to share Al-Qaeda intelligence
* Iran
airforce plans bombing exercises near Iraqi border
* Fire
destroys U.N. refugee agency warehouse in northeastern Iran
* Iran
welcomes Iraqi decision on inspectors, opposes unilateral U.S. action
* Iran
lashes out at United States over accusations on al-Qaida
* Iran
defeats Morocco 5-4, Paraguay beats South Africa 2-0 in soccer friendlies
* Iran
warns US to respect "red line" of border with Iraq
* Iran
will rehearse civil defense in case of threat
* Iran
sent back suspected extremist leader to Norway
* Iran's
Judiciary Bans Two Reformist Publications
* Iran,
South Korea in $1.6B Gas Deal
* Iran's
Rafsanjani Says U.S. After Iraqi Oil
* Khatami
to hold talks on Iraq crisis in Saudi Arabia
* Rafsanjani:
Bush speech a "step back" from the brink
* Police
arrest 16 in rioting in northwestern Iran
* Khatami
heads to Saudi Arabia for talks
* Iran
Assures Iraq Border Is 'Secure'
* Constitution,
yardstick for national progress: Khatami
* Reformists
voice "solidarity" with US, urge policy change
* Solidarity
with victims of Sept 11 by Khatami Cabinet
* Iran
to Award Two Phases of South Pars Gas Project to LG Construction
* Iran's
top leadership in key security talks
* Iran
prepares to shelter Iraqi refugees on border regions in case of U.S. attack
* US
to deliver new hygiene kits to Iran's quake victims
* Iran
Calls for New U.S. Ideas to Improve Ties
* Iran
Says U.S. Is Exploiting 9/11
* Iran
Says Tests New Surface-To-Surface Missile
* Khatami's
allies may resort to referendum for change
* US
cannot take act in M.E. without Iran: Rafasanjani
* 10
cafes shut down, hosting "unaccompanied women"
* Call
for action on Iran constitution
* Supreme
Court upholds 7-month jail term for MP
* Iranian,
French FMs discuss ties over phone
* Anti-money
laundering campaign bill at Majlis
* Presidential
powers bill offers Iran a "fateful test" for democratic reforms
* Sudan,
Iran Deny Links to Al Qaeda Gold Shipments
* Iran
defeats Lebanon 2-0
* Iran
says it won't stand idle if Iraq is attacked
* Khatami challenges
vetting body
* Farhad,
the political singer, songwriter passed away
* Secret
Israeli-Iranian ties resurface over ship seizure
* "US
politicizing sports by wrestling boycott": Iran
* Police
arrest 17 youths for listening to music on beach
* Germany
holds up Israeli military shipment said headed for Iran
* Iran
dismisses claim that Israeli military shipment was heading its way
* White
House warns Iran to expel Al-Qaeda
* Khatami
says he will seek greater powers from parliament
* Iran
opens bureau in Dubai to pursue contacts with US
* Two
leaders of al-Qaida operating in Iran, according to unconfirmed intelligence reports
* Banned
opposition group "no threat to security"
* Khamenei
appreciates the Governments' efforts
* Cancellation
of Iran trip frustrates U.S. wrestlers
* Iran's
parliament approves bill allowing women equal divorce right
* US
Pulls Wrestlers from Iran Championships After Threat
* Jewish
lawmaker urges Iran's leader to pardon Jews convicted of spying
* Reformist
accuses US of wanting to impose change
* Iranian
troops deployed on Iraqi border: Kurds
* N.
Korean company targeted by U.S. sanctions
* Khatami
opposes Iranian "warmongers"
* Five
Majlis deputies summoned to court
* MPs
to prevent dissolution of Tehran City Council
* Iran
denies rumored plans for state of emergency
* Iran
army chief says plans drawn up to repel US threats
* U.S.
congressional delegation expresses concern over Russian cooperation with Iraq, Iran
* Reformers
Fear Hard-Line Crackdown
* Iran,
state of emergency to meet US "threats"
* Pilot
killed, six senior police officers injured in helicopter crash
* Khameneni
says resuming ties with America would be humiliating
* Germany's
economy minister visits Iran to sign investment treaty
* Bahrain's
king begins historic first visit to Iran
* Iran
slams Rice's accusation of supporting terrrorism
* Bahrain's
King to visit Iran on Saturday: minister
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