John Pilger, award-winning journalist and documentary film-maker, talks to Anthony Arnove about why the U.S. went to war - and why its colonial occupation is in crisis.

November 29, 2003

By Ron Jacobs
November 24, 2003
CounterPunch

Great news!! The Iraqis will be running their own country by June 2004. Once again, the mission will be accomplished. It must be time to celebrate. George Bush can be elected president and continue his holy mission to make the world a safer place. Yay! As the saying goes, if you believe this, then there's a bridge I know of that's for sale.

Bush's adviser says the Iraq invasion was illegal but that it doesn't matter. So that's the law sorted out, writes Richard Ingram.

November 23, 2003
The Observer

By Arab Media Watch director Sharif Hikmat Nashashibi.

November 19, 2003

Last week the Daily Telegraph, the Guardian, the Jewish press in Britain and the Israeli press reported that the BBC had appointed Malcolm Balen, a former editor of the Nine O'Clock News, as "senior editorial adviser" regarding the corporation's Middle East coverage. Almost all the reports implied (some gleefully, such as the London Jewish News) that the appointment was due to charges of "anti-Israel bias". I say almost because the Telegraph made the link explicitly with its headline: "BBC appoints man to monitor 'pro-Arab bias'."

I had assumed, from the lack of any quotes from Balen in these reports, that he was a difficult man to reach. But my assumption was as wrong as the reports. I e-mailed him and received a reply that same morning dismissing the newspaper allegations. Others received similar replies. My relief was mixed with a sense of dismay that these reporters had seemingly failed to try to get confirmation from Balen before going to print, and had bought into the gloating from the pro-Israel lobby.

By Nick Pretzlik, a British writer and human rights activist currently traveling in Israel and occupied Palestine.

November 16

Fatemeh has experienced more than her share of misfortunes, but the first -- and the worst -- was to be born in Khashem Zeneh in 1923 just as storm clouds were gathering beyond the horizon and Jewish immigration to Palestine was rising. Balfour had made his famous Declaration in 1917 and decisions were taken in far away places that would seal the fate of Bedouin tradition and culture in the Negev forever.

November 14, 2003
The Guardian

Jewish settlers wreck fruit of centuries of toil to force out Palestinian villagers, writes Chris McGreal.

By Charles Glass, ABC News Chief Mideast correspondent, 1983-1993.

November 13, 2003
The Independent

It took two years for US deaths to reach 324 in Vietnam. It passed that figure in seven months in Iraq.

The Guardian
November 13, 2003

Iraqis jokingly call it a government of the nearest and dearest. Though Saddam Hussein and his Tikriti relatives have gone, Iraq's new leaders are doing their bit to keep nepotism alive. Almost a third of the cabinet and US-appointed governing council are related to one or more other members.