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/ 18 November 2004

Cut the losses

Since the start of the United States assault on Fallujah, two incidents have underscored the grotesque reality that underpins the American "crusade" in Iraq. The first is the absurd hoo-ha in the US media surrounding Marine Lance Corporal James Black Miller and his request for more and cheaper Marlboro cigarettes. The second is the cold-blooded slaying of wounded Iraqi fighters in a Fallujah mosque.

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/ 18 November 2004

A passionate Iraqi to the end

Margaret Hassan had devoted 30 years of her life to the health and welfare of the Iraqi people. She was a convert to Islam, fluent in Arabic, with an Iraqi husband. She was a well-known, respected and accepted figure in Baghdad and vocal critic of the United States-led war on her adopted country. But this week it appeared that not even those credentials could save her from death at the hands of her kidnappers.

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/ 18 November 2004

Côte d’Ivoire: ‘SA is an honest broker’

South African President Thabo Mbeki is engaged in political firefighting in the Côte d’Ivoire, where fears of a full-scale civil war between government and rebel forces loom large. Côte d’Ivoire, the world’s largest cocoa producer, began slipping into chaos on November 4 when the army attacked the rebel-held north, shattering a fragile 18-month ceasefire.

  • ‘Everyone wants peace’
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    / 18 November 2004

    Race rows spoil Spain-England matches

    Racist taunts aimed at the black players on England’s soccer teams spoiled Spain’s impressive 1-0 victory over David Beckham’s team on Wednesday. While the Spaniards outplayed England for long periods at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, their fans taunted Shaun Wright-Phillips and Ashley Cole whenever they had the ball.

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    / 18 November 2004

    Ox ploughs on

    Os du Randt could have been on his farm this Saturday, looking after the cattle herd.
    Instead, the man who ”retired” from rugby four years ago is set to win his 50th cap for South Africa when they face world champions England at Twickenham. ”He’s probably the greatest loosehead prop we’ve ever produced,” said coach Jake White.

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    / 18 November 2004

    Bafana finally beat Nigeria

    Nigeria’s domination over South Africa came to an end on Wednesday night when Bafana Bafana beat the Super Eagles 2-1 in the Nelson Mandela Challenge Cup at Ellis Park Stadium. The Super Eagles brought their third string squad after the late withdrawal of nine of their first team players.

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    / 18 November 2004

    Swapo poised for landslide victory

    Namibia’s South West African People’s Organisation (Swapo) is set for another landslide election victory in what has been a dour election, with low-key campaigning. With only a sprinkling of barely legible posters on lamp posts, election paraphernalia has been in short supply in the sparsely populated country where the ruling party’s liberation credentials still hold sway.

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    / 18 November 2004

    Gesine Schwan: Passionate about reconciliation

    Gesine Schwan heads a university dedicated to Europe, ran for German president and learned French and Polish as a child to help heal the wounds inflicted on her family by Nazism. A native of Berlin, Schwan’s parents were members of the resistance who hid a Jewish girl during World War II. But because Poland ”suffered even more at the hands of Germany than France” — over six million Poles were killed — she has dedicated her prodigious energies to reconciliation.

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    / 18 November 2004

    ‘Really smart’ Condi moves up

    Condoleezza Rice’s 500m move from the White House to the State Department is a supreme act of vindication by a president who believes he has the popular will behind him. ”She’s fun to be with,” Bush said at the time. ”I like lighthearted people, not people who take themselves so seriously. Besides, she’s really smart!” The new state secretary has become the first black woman to fill a post that first belonged to Thomas Jefferson.