Hopes of a joyful liberation of a grateful Iraq by US and British armies are evaporating fast in the Euphrates valley as a sense of bitterness, germinated from blood spilled and humiliations endured, begins to grow in the hearts of invaded and invader alike.
The US and British governments are facing a worsening humanitarian crisis in besieged Basra, Iraq’s second city, where electricity and water supplies have been severely disrupted.
By the time the camera switched on to the olive green fatigues and black beret favoured by Saddam Hussein in moments of crisis, the Iraqi leader had achieved a milestone. Day five of America’s war on Iraq, and he was still alive, and still in command.
US and Iraqi forces appear to be poised on the outskirts of Baghdad to begin their first big tank battle since the last Gulf war 12 years ago, but this time it is likely to be only an overture to a clash in the Iraqi capital itself.
Tony Blair today warned that coalition troops would face ”resistance all the way to the end of this campaign” as British forces were again drawn into fierce fighting in southern Iraq.
US President George W Bush and his administration drew a line in the sands of history. This second Gulf War represents a historical turning point, the dimensions of which have not been witnessed since the end of World War II, almost 60 years ago.
It is not macroeconomic madness to suggest that South Africa should introduce a full menu of HIV/Aids prevention and treatment programmes. The resources are there. The issue is now one of political judgement and will.
Officials on Monday announced teams to represent England and Zimbabwe in the inaugural Double Wicket World Cup cricket tournament next month. Andrew Flintoff and Adam Hollioake will represent England and Heath Streak and Grant Flower will turn out for Zimbabwe, said the St. Lucia Tourist Board.
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Durban Roodepoort Deep, the mining firm racked by allegations that executive chairperson Mark Wellesley-Wood took his corporate clean-up campaign beyond the limits of the law, was hit by another high-profile resignation in the third week of March.