News
and Analysis about the Iraq War from Asia
March 25, 2003
"Anti-war rallies continue" Daily Times, Pakistan
Opponents of the US-led war against Iraq rallied outside US embassies in
Asia on Tuesday, keeping up a barrage of criticism of President George W
Bush and urging a boycott of US movies and music.
"Hoping for an American failure" Ha'aretz, Israel
What will happen to the Palestinians the day after the war? Will it be good
for them? A number of people from the West Bank and Gaza Strip have begun
discussing it in recent days against the background of diplomatic activity
on the Palestinian issue, even as the fighting is underway.
(Danny Rubinstein)
"No Timetable for Saudi Oil Deliveries to Jordan" Arab
News, Saudi Arabia
No timetable has been set for Jordan’s first consignment of oil from Saudi
Arabia in over 10 years, the Jordanian Minister of Information Mohammed Adwan
told Arab News yesterday.
(Mohammed Alkhereiji)
"The conflict 'could spell chaos for Pakistan'" Jang,
Pakistan
The second Gulf War could spell chaos in Pakistan. Musharraf himself has admitted
that Pakistan may be the next target. Addressing a group of businessmen and
industrialists in Lahore in January, Musharraf had said that "after the Iraq
crisis, Pakistan would be the next target of the Western forces".
(Ashutosh Misra)
"Pakistan Could Be Next US Target, Warns MMA Leader" Arab
News, Saudi Arabia
The head of the six-party religious alliance has warned that Pakistan could
become the next target of the US if Washington feels that Osama Bin Laden
is hiding in the country.
"Treading a cautious path" The Hindu, India
For both India and Pakistan, the objective of what is claimed to be a nuanced
policy line on Iraq is the same — to be on the right side of Washington.
(K. K. Katyal)
"India to US: War there, talks here?" The Telegraph,
India
The US state department’s call to resume talks with Pakistan has touched
off a raw nerve as India, seething at the recent massacre in Kashmir, today
hit back by questioning America’s decision to invade Iraq.
(Pranay Sharma)
March 24, 2003
"Lies, Lies and More Lies" Arab News, Saudi Arabia
The Ryiadh-based daily blasted the Bush administration's comments in regards
to humane treatement of American POWs: "Rumsfeld's newfound affection for
the Geneva Convention is remarkable."
"Pakistan's mullahs thrive on anti-war fever" Asia
Times, Hong Kong
Sniffing an opportunity, Pakistan's religious right has wasted no time in
whipping up anti-war and pan-Islamic feelings in the country. Curiously,
it ignores "old Europe's" opposition to America's war in Iraq and the worldwide
demonstrations by millions of people of all religions.
(M. B. Naqvi)
"The other America" Al-Ahram, Egypt
The United States is not the monolith many Arabs presume it to be. It is more
accurate, writes Edward Said, to apprehend America as embroiled in a serious
clash of identities whose counterparts are visible as similar contests throughout
the rest of the world
(Edward Said)
"Thousands [of Lebanese] protest against US, UK aggression
on Iraq" Daily Star, Lebanon
Thousands of people throughout the country demonstrated against the war over
the weekend in a wave that promises more to come during the week. On Sunday,
Tripoli residents burned American products in the middle of the street near
the bridge over the Abu Ali River.
(Nayla Assaf)
"US, British embassies shut as Bahraini antiwar protesters
clash with police" Jordan Times, Jordan
The US and British embassies in Bahrain remained closed to public Sunday as
demonstrators threw stones and set tyres ablaze outside the American embassy
in the third straight day of clashes with riot police guarding foreign missions.
"Police stop mob protesting outside US airbase in Jacobabad"
Daily Times, Pakistan
Police stopped about 2,000 protestors from holding an anti-war demonstration
outside a US airbase here on Sunday, witnesses said.
"Japan to provide $100m to compensate for Jordan's oil losses
" Jordan Times, Jordan
Japan said Sunday it would provide the Kingdom with $100 million in emergency
aid to compensate for its oil losses from its sole provider, Iraq, a diplomat
said.
(Dina Al Wakeel)
"Over 5,000 Iraqis return home from Jordan" Middle East
Online, London
5,284 Iraqis have crossed border into Iraq since March 16, contradicting Jordan's
expectations.
March 23, 2003
"It's War: Friday’s bloody protest signals that the worse is
yet to come" Yemen Times, Yemen
As many as four people were killed and several more injured in violent confrontations
Friday in Sana’a between police and protesters against the war. Medical
sources said four died, however, the ministry of interior said two citizens
were killed and nine injured while thirteen soldiers were wounded, three
of them seriously.
(Mohammed Al-Qadhi)
"Police and demonstrators clash as anti-war protests go to
central Cairo" Middle East Times, Egypt
Clashes broke out in central Cairo Friday between anti-war protestors and
security forces leaving dozens arrested, as thousands took to the streets
to vent anger at the US-led war on Iraq.
"Three US missiles land in Iran" Daily Times, Pakistan
Three missiles fired by US jets taking part in attacks in Iraq landed over
the border in southwestern Iran, Iran’s official IRNA news agency said on
Saturday.
"Four Jordanians killed in missile attack" DAWN,
Pakistan
Four Jordanian students were killed when a missile exploded near their car
as they were driving out of Mosul, in northern Iraq, to flee US and British
bombardments, a government official said on Sunday.
"Can Arabs Wash Their Hands of This Blood?" Arab News,
Saudi Arabia
Dr. Buthaina Shaaban discusses about Arab solidarity and accountability, especially
in the face of British and American aggression. The writer, who is the director
of External Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Syria, argues further,
that "another certainty is that the time has come to put an end to the situation
that pervades in the nation, and which the Arab media has regrettably done
much to spread."
"UAE: War puts spotlight on Mideast's largest military show"
Monday Morning, Jordan
The International Defense Exhibition (IDEX 2003) in Abu Dhabi, capital of
the United Arab Emirates (UAE), was last week offering products ranging from
missiles to footwear and ready-to-eat meals, and also offered exhibitors
the unique chance of live-fire demonstrations. Around 825 companies from
46 countries took part.
March 20, 2003
"Saddam plan: cheat and retreat" Gulf News, United
Arab Emirates
Saddam's war plan has three aims.
"As the war approaches, Palestinian fears rise" Ha'aretz,
Israel
In recent weeks, residents in the West Bank and Gaza have been spinning
horror scenarios that could happen under cover of the war in Iraq.
"Iran closes its borders with Iraq" IRNA, Iran
Ahmad Hosseini, Iran's head of the Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants
Agency, said Iran has closed its borders with Iraq.
"Oman
Air to evacuate over 1,800 people from Kuwait, Jordan" Oman Daily Observer,
Oman
Oman Air, the Sultanate's national carrier, has initiated a massive evacuation
programme of its citizens from Kuwait and Amman.
"MMA calls countrywide strike" Jang, Pakistan
Muttahida Majlis Amal (MMA) has called for countrywide strike on Friday
to express solidarity with the people of Iraq.
"US military opens two new bases in Afghanistan" Jang,
Pakistan
The US military is opening two new bases on Afghanistan's north-eastern
frontier with Pakistan.
"Muslim leaders react angrily to start of U.S.-led war"
Jakarta Post, Indonesia
Moderate and radical Indonesian Muslim leaders reacted angrily Thursday
to the start of the U.S.-led war on Iraq.
"A new war beyond the war" Asia Times, Hong Kong
The war that comes next, though, will be harder to win, as Afghanistan is
already proving.
March 19, 2003
"Top leaders warn of Washington's designs on region" Daily
Star, Lebanon
Several Lebanese politicians predicted that the United States would easily
win the war but likely "lose the peace."
"Can the war turn nuclear?" Al-Ahram, Egypt
If war breaks out because of the Iraqi problem, a nuclear scenario cannot
be excluded.
(Mohamed Sid-Ahmed)
"Violent protests in Saada, peaceful in other cities"
Yemen Times, Yemen
Tens of thousands of Yemenis protested in major Yemeni cities against the
upcoming war against Iraq.
"Massive arrest campaign in two main cities" Yemen Times,
Yemen
Yemeni security forces launched last week a massive arrest campaign against
al-Qaeda suspects in Ibb and Aden.
"Army deployed in Jacobabad" Jang, Pakistan
The city was handed over to Pakistan Army late on Wednesday night in view
to any possible public reaction against US attack on Iraq.
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