萝莉视频

Smoke billows from an explosion in Iraqi President Saddam Hussein鈥檚 guest palace after it is bombed during a US-led coalition air raid on March 31, 2003. AFP
Smoke billows from an explosion in Iraqi President Saddam Hussein鈥檚 guest palace after it is bombed during a US-led coalition air raid on March 31, 2003. AFP

2003 - The US war on Iraq

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Updated 19 April 2025

2003 - The US war on Iraq

2003 - The US war on Iraq

JEDDAH: What shall we call the 2003 US war in Iraq? The Americans had no problem at all in describing it as a liberation. From the Arab perspective, however, it was something completely different.

If you flip through editions of Arab News published in the lead-up to the start of the bombing of Baghdad on the night of March 20, 2003, what strikes you is that many Arabs were opposed to the US war in Iraq because they, correctly, foresaw that the result would be to hand the country to Iran on a platter.

US President George W. Bush was always prejudiced against Saddam Hussein. Bush鈥檚 cabinet colleagues and advisers, especially Donald Rumsfeld, Richard Perle and other neocons in the administration, made no attempt to hide their own pathological dislike of the Iraqi leader.

There were several theories for why Bush despised Saddam so. Some reports suggested the hatred stemmed from Saddam plotting to kill his father, former President George H. W. Bush, during a visit to Kuwait in 1993. Whatever the reasons, Bush Jr.鈥檚 advisers took full advantage of the president鈥檚 strong dislike and fed it with a variety of stories.

The horrific attacks on US soil by Al-Qaeda on Sept. 11, 2001, gave Bush and his advisers a reason to take out Saddam. He was portrayed as a supporter of Al-Qaeda and its leader, Osama bin Laden, and was therefore tarred with the same brush of Muslim terrorism.

Nobody in the Middle East was taken in by this story, however, because it was well known there that Saddam hated Al-Qaeda more than anything else. As a Baathist, he viewed Islamist terrorists as a great threat to his rule, much more so even than the danger posed by his archenemy, Iran.

How we wrote it




The 鈥淗igh Noon for Cowboy Era鈥 headline, with Bush in a cowboy hat, remains one of the newspaper鈥檚 most iconic front pages.

But the post-9/11 atmosphere was such that it was easy to create any narrative as justification for the elimination of any perceived enemy. That is exactly what happened with Saddam. A flimsy case was put together that alleged he was in possession of weapons of mass destruction, based on flawed intelligence.

Colin Powell, Bush鈥檚 secretary of state, gave an elaborate speech to the UN, complete with maps and pictures of where the WMDs allegedly were hidden. The wider world was nonetheless unconvinced, and the UN, which had sent its own experts to Iraq on a fruitless search for such weapons, refused to approve Washington鈥檚 war.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal raised serious concerns on 鈥淔rontline,鈥 an investigative documentary series on the US TV network PBS.

鈥淲hat鈥檚 going to happen to them (Iraqi soldiers and officials), especially since the army was disbanded and the government fired? And who鈥檚 going to rule Iraq if you have that?鈥 he asked.

鈥淪addam Hussein had perhaps 2 million people controlling Iraq. The US and its allies have close to 150,000. How do you make that work?鈥

Nonetheless, Washington developed and choreographed its plan to attack Iraq. Arab News published many reports at the time about how Saudi authorities advised the US, its closest Western ally, to call for sanctions instead.

Key Dates

  • 1

    US Secretary of State Colin Powell addresses the UN Security Council and offers a rationale for war on Iraq: the country鈥檚 alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction.

    Timeline Image Feb. 5, 2003

  • 2

    American aircraft launch a blistering attack on Baghdad. Dubbed 鈥渟hock and awe,鈥 it knocks out Iraqi anti-missile batteries, aircraft and power installations. The presidential palace is attacked.

    Timeline Image March 20, 2003

  • 3

    US President George W. Bush flies to aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in a Lockheed S-3 Viking aircraft and gives a speech in which he announces the end of major combat operations in Iraq.

    Timeline Image May 1, 2003

  • 4

    Saddam Hussein captured after 9 months in hiding.

    Timeline Image Dec. 13, 2003

  • 5

    Saddam executed after sham trial by the interim Iraqi government. Despite prolonged searches by the US, no WMDs are found in Iraq.

    Timeline Image Dec. 30, 2006

  • 6

    After nearly 9 years of a guerrilla war, the last US soldiers leave Iraq. The estimated cost of the conflict exceeds $800 billion, with 4,500 American and more than 100,000 Iraqi lives lost.

Even after Saddam had invaded Kuwait in the early 1990s, and his army was pulverized by the US and Saudi-led liberation forces, Riyadh had gone to great lengths to convince Washington it would be a bad move to remove Saddam from power. Saudi officials knew his demise would lead to chaos in the region and provide Iran with a golden opportunity to run amok.

Sure enough, as things panned out a little over a decade later, the removal of Saddam did indeed lead to horrific atrocities, both in Iraq and the wider region. Al-Qaeda, which had been given a severe drubbing in Afghanistan, bounced back and found an ideal and very fertile breeding ground in post-Saddam Iraq.

Much later, Daesh appeared on the scene. Sensing an opening, Iran stepped in and unleashed a sectarian war. Thousands died. Tehran and its many murderous militias used improvised explosive devices to devastating effect.

As a senior member of staff at Arab News, I was part of the team that would select stories and photos for the front page. Some from that time remain etched in our memories. The front page on March 19, 2003, for example, pictured Bush in a cowboy hat under the headline: 鈥淗igh noon for cowboy era.鈥

That same front page also reported on King Fahd鈥檚 address to the Saudi people on March 18 in which he said: 鈥淭he Kingdom will under no circumstances take part in the war against Iraq, and its armed forces will not enter an inch of Iraqi territory.鈥

Baghdad was bombed for the first time the next night, after a 48-hour ultimatum issued by Bush to Saddam expired. There was extensive reporting by Arab News from Kuwait, Jordan, Washington and, of course, Baghdad. Our correspondents on the ground filed their reports to the newsroom in Jeddah. The March 21, 2003, edition carried the headline: 鈥淏aghdad set ablaze; palaces, Saddam鈥檚 family home targeted in aerial bombardment.鈥

On the nights that followed, the US unleashed at least 3,000 satellite-guided bombs and cruise missiles upon Iraq. There was not an Iraqi weapon of mass destruction in sight. In the 鈥淟etters to the Editor鈥 page of Arab News, readers referred to these elusive WMDs as 鈥渨eapons of mass deception.鈥

There was intense and severe criticism in 萝莉视频 of the war, especially because the UN had refused to approve it. In an article in the March 21, 2003, edition, Adnan Jaber, a Jordanian journalist in 萝莉视频, said the conflict 鈥渨ould increase terrorism rather than reduce it, since political instability would provide a breeding ground for radicalism.鈥




Iraqis watch the televised execution by hanging of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein, the 鈥淏utcher of Baghdad鈥 captured by US forces in Operation Red Dawn. AFP

His words were profoundly prescient. The very political instability he predicted led many members of Saddam鈥檚 army, which the Americans had foolishly disbanded, to join Daesh and Al-Qaeda so that they could strike a blow against the invaders who had ravaged their homeland for no purpose.

There were, as in all wars, moments of dark comic relief. We would gather around TV screens in the newsroom, for example, to listen to Saddam鈥檚 information minister, Mohammed Saeed Al-Sahaf, making ridiculous claims as he addressed the media every day.

According to him, Saddam鈥檚 army was on the verge of victory; the reality was exactly the opposite. The much-touted American campaign of 鈥渟hock and awe鈥 had resulted in the melting away of the Iraqi military, who offered no resistance. It was later revealed that Iraqi soldiers simply gave up their uniforms and chose guerrilla warfare by joining Daesh or Al-Qaeda.

The region continues to suffer the consequences of that war: an increase in terrorism; political instability, and the creation of breeding ground for radicalism. In virtually all ways, the consequences were much worse than the war itself.

Arab News was well placed to report on the war and its after-effects, and is proud to continue the same tradition of dedicated and responsible journalism to this day.

  • Siraj Wahab is managing editor of Arab News. During the invasion of Iraq, he was a senior member of staff, having joined the newspaper in January 1998.


Zookeepers in Prague turn into puppeteers to save baby vultures

Zookeepers in Prague turn into puppeteers to save baby vultures
Updated 16 sec ago

Zookeepers in Prague turn into puppeteers to save baby vultures

Zookeepers in Prague turn into puppeteers to save baby vultures
The first-born is being kept in a box and fed using a puppet designed to mimic a parent bird
The puppet is needed to make sure the bird will be capable of breeding

PRAGUE: Zookeepers in Prague sometimes have to become puppeteers to save newborn birds rejected by their parents. This was the case for a lesser yellow-headed vulture chick hatched three weeks ago.

Bird keeper Anton铆n Vaidl said Thursday that when a dummy egg disappeared from the nest, it signaled to keepers that the parents were not ready to care for their two babies, despite doing so in 2022 and 2023.

The first-born is being kept in a box and fed using a puppet designed to mimic a parent bird, while another is expected to hatch in the next few days.

Vaidl said the puppet is needed to make sure the bird will be capable of breeding, which it won鈥檛 if it gets used to human interaction.

He explained that the puppet doesn鈥檛 have to be a perfect replica of an adult bird because the chick responds to certain signals, such as the pale orange coloration on its featherless head and neck.

Lesser yellow-headed vultures live in the wild in Latin America and Mexico. Prague Zoo is one of only three zoos in Europe that breed them.

In the past, the park successfully applied this treatment to save the critically endangered Javan green magpie and two rhinoceros hornbill chicks. The puppet-feeding technique is applicable for birds that live in pairs.

鈥淭he method has been working well,鈥 Vaidl said. 鈥淲e鈥檒l see what happens with the vultures.鈥

Seo Seoa stuns two-time champion Ouschan

Seo Seoa stuns two-time champion Ouschan
Updated 1 min 14 sec ago

Seo Seoa stuns two-time champion Ouschan

Seo Seoa stuns two-time champion Ouschan
  • Seo Seoa dismantled听the two-time World Champion Albin Ouschan with a dominant 9-2 victory
  • Defending champion Fedor Gorst continued his strong title defence with a 9鈥5 victory over Italy鈥檚 Francesco Candela

JEDDAH: Seo Seoa produced the shock of the tournament, so far, eliminating two-time World Champion Albin Ouschan to reach the last 64. As the only female competitor in the field, she now stands just one victory away from making history as the first woman ever to reach the last 32 of the event.

In collaboration with the 萝莉视频 Billiard & Snooker Federation and under the supervision of the 萝莉视频n Ministry of Sport, the 2025 World Pool Championship 鈥 the crown jewel of the World Nineball Tour 鈥 returns to the iconic Green Halls in Jeddah, Kingdom of 萝莉视频, from 21鈥26 July.

Seo Seoa dismantled the two-time World Champion Albin Ouschan with a dominant 9-2 victory 鈥 an extraordinary result that brings the Korean star within one win of making history.

Reflecting on her landmark performance, Seoa said: 鈥淚 just enjoy my game so I鈥檓 not nervous and I feel my confidence is good. I really respect Albin鈥檚 game, he鈥檚 a two-time champion. But because of that respect I feel comfortable when up against him.

My goal is to break the record of the first woman player to reach the Last 32 stage. I鈥檓 now only one step away.鈥

Defending champion Fedor Gorst continued his strong title defence with a 9鈥5 victory over Italy鈥檚 Francesco Candela, building momentum ahead of the single-elimination rounds. While still fine-tuning his break, the Russian looked more settled at the table.

鈥淚 think this match went better than the first one. I felt more confident at the table, and the things I worked on after the first round were definitely working during this one. The shots that gave me trouble before were much more under control now. I made a few solid decisions and shots that I was happy with.

That being said, my break still wasn鈥檛 working for me, so I鈥檓 heading to the practice room now to work on that. I鈥檝e made it to the Last 64 鈥 single elimination starts tomorrow, races to 10. Time to reset and get ready.鈥

One of the day鈥檚 most anticipated matches saw a dramatic clash between former world champions Shane Van Boening and Ko Pin Yi in the last round of Losers Qualification. With both players fighting for survival, Van Boening jumped out to an early lead. Ko mounted a late comeback to make it 5-5, but the American held firm to progress to charging the next 4-racks to secure a crucial victory.

Filipino rising star AJ Manas produced one of the standout performances of the day, toppling reigning UK Open champion Aloysius Yapp to secure his place in the Last 64.

鈥淚鈥檓 very happy because not only did I win my game but I felt really comfortable now on the main TV table鈥攏ot like yesterday. Aloysius made a couple of errors so I had to take my chance. But now I look forward to my next match. I know I need to stay locked in for the Last 64, but I鈥檓 so excited.鈥

Reyes Cup teammates Johann Chua and Carlo Biado both cruised into the Last 64, continuing the strong Filipino showing in Jeddah. Chua overcame Oliver Szolnoki, while Biado defeated fellow countryman Lee Vann Corteza. Chua stated:

鈥淚鈥檓 happy to be back in the Last 64 鈥 but it鈥檚 far from over yet. I know I got to stay focused, tomorrow is going to be tough. But I am happy 鈥 and happy for the Filipinos that have made it through alongside me 鈥 Carlo Biado, one of the best players from the Philippines, to have him with me. I am proud.鈥

Jayson Shaw continued his smooth progress through the field with a 9鈥5 win over American Max Eberle, while fellow Brit Chris Melling had to fight his way through the Losers Qualification stage. After falling short to last year鈥檚 runner-up Eklent Kaci in his opening match, Melling bounced back by defeating Mohamed Al-Balkhi to stay in contention.

鈥淚 haven鈥檛 played Nineball since last year鈥檚 US Open. So coming into this event I didn鈥檛 have high expectations and I鈥檓 aware anything can happen in this event 鈥 I focus on each match one by one.

But with Kaci I felt like I played better than him at the start of the match 鈥 I only missed one shot. But I think my shot selection let me down but I like to go out firing on the table. However I鈥檓 glad I got the job done in my following match, and am happy to be back tomorrow.鈥

With just 64 players remaining, the World Pool Championship now enters its most demanding stage鈥攕ingle elimination, races to 10. The stakes are higher, the pressure is heavier, and every shot counts as the battle for the world title intensifies in Jeddah.


Army says major, sepoy killed in counterterror operation in Pakistan's southwest

Army says major, sepoy killed in counterterror operation in Pakistan's southwest
Updated 15 min 20 sec ago

Army says major, sepoy killed in counterterror operation in Pakistan's southwest

Army says major, sepoy killed in counterterror operation in Pakistan's southwest
  • Military says three militants backed by neighboring India gunned down in Mastung district
  • Pakistan's restive Balochistan province has long been the site of separatist, insurgent violence

ISLAMABAD: An army major and a sepoy were killed during an intelligence-based operation in Pakistan's southwestern Mastung district, the military's media wing said on Thursday amid Islamabad's battle against surging militancy. 

The latest operation took place in Balochistan's Mastung district on July 23 when security forces received reports of the presence of "terrorists" belonging to "Fitna al Hindustan," a term the Pakistani military uses for militants it says are backed by neighbor and archrival India.

The military said three militants were killed during its counterterror operation. However, Major Zeeyyad Salim Awal, 31, and Sepoy Nazam Hussain, 22, were killed during the exchange of fire, the military's media wing said. 

"Sanitization operation is being conducted to eliminate any other Indian sponsored terrorist found in the area, as the security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of Indian Sponsored Terrorism from the country," the military said. 

"And such sacrifices of our brave men further strengthen our resolve."

Pakistan's restive Balochistan province has long been the site of separatist and insurgent violence, and Islamabad has frequently alleged Indian involvement in destabilizing activities there, a charge New Delhi denies.

India accuses Pakistan of training and funding militant groups in the part of disputed Kashmir that New Delhi administers. Islamabad denies the allegations and says it only extends diplomatic support to the people of Kashmir. 

The two countries engaged in the worst fighting between them since 1998 in May this year, pounding each other with drones, fighter jets, missiles and artillery fire before Washington brokered a ceasefire on May 10. 

 


Is it a bird, is it a plane? No 鈥 it鈥檚 a Saudi aviation athlete

Is it a bird, is it a plane? No 鈥 it鈥檚 a Saudi aviation athlete
Updated 19 min 7 sec ago

Is it a bird, is it a plane? No 鈥 it鈥檚 a Saudi aviation athlete

Is it a bird, is it a plane? No 鈥 it鈥檚 a Saudi aviation athlete
  • What started as a hobby earned Faisal Al-Olayan a place in the national paragliding team

RIYADH: Most people live their lives on the ground, but Faisal Al-Olayan chose the sky.

The Saudi aviation athlete, this week鈥檚 guest on The Mayman Show, is an aerospace engineer, pilot, skydiver and a member of the Kingdom鈥檚 national paragliding team. Most of us travel, but he chases storms, soars above mountains and dives into clouds in ways most of us only dream about. 

From experiencing rain that 鈥渁lmost stops the heart鈥 mid-flight to emotional moments when he completed his wingsuit training in Russia, Al-Olayan lives life one adrenaline rush at a time. His story is not so much about escaping gravity, as about finding freedom within it.

鈥淚 started having fun in flying because my mom, when I was young, she was telling me (I was) half bird. And when I started with this mentality, I started to do all of my activities in the sky. I started from graduating with sports until I am here with the national team,鈥 said Al-Olayan.

He began paramotoring in 2019, a form of ultralight aviation using a paraglider wing and a motor worn as a backpack.

鈥淚 started to train (in) paramotoring here in Riyadh,鈥 he recalled. 鈥淎 paramotor is basically a parachute, but you have an engine (on) your back and you can foot-launch from anywhere.鈥

He then planned to do his pilot training in the US, but the global pandemic and resulting lockdowns put paid to that.

Al-Olayan loves to travel and has visited 67 countries to date.

鈥淚 started to take my paraglider with me to fly from mountains, I was getting more experience with this sport as a paraglider. And this is what makes me continue in all of those aerial sports,鈥 he said.

His role as an aerospace engineer also plays a big part in his experiences in the air.

鈥淚f you want to start to fly, you have to know aerodynamics 鈥 you have to know how the wind (is) flying and all of those things,鈥 he explained.

It also helped him become a fast learner and understand what was happening when he flew.

鈥淭here are two kinds of pilots. There is an experienced one and there is (an) experience and no physics one 鈥 it鈥檚 like driving 鈥 you know how to drive the car, but you don鈥檛 know anything about the car, you don鈥檛 know about the engine,鈥 he said.

Al-Olayan added that was what made him fall in love with paramotoring and other sports.

鈥淚 even built my own paramotor. I was designing it, everything with my specifications and things like that,鈥 he said. 鈥淎nd all of that happened when I studied at KFUPM (King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals) in Dhahran.鈥

For five years, he did nothing but study until he obtained his degree in aerospace engineering. After that, he started taking part in competitions, doing well enough to earn his place in 萝莉视频鈥檚 national paragliding team, run by the Saudi Paragliding Federation.

鈥淪haheen (is) the name of the paragliding organization. And that was like 鈥 a new chapter for me because to compete is something 鈥 you鈥檙e holding your name 鈥 but now you compete with the Saudi name 鈥 bringing your flag and your clothes, and everyone is seeing you as a Saudi athlete,鈥 he explained.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not like Faisal, the old one, is coming to compete. In the competitions that I was in, (I) was less nervous and less pressured. But when I was going with the national team, it was much, much more pressure. But for me, I enjoyed it a lot because it was more exciting.鈥

 

 


Farhan鈥檚 50 lifts Pakistan to 178-7 in third Bangladesh T20I

Farhan鈥檚 50 lifts Pakistan to 178-7 in third Bangladesh T20I
Updated 19 min 26 sec ago

Farhan鈥檚 50 lifts Pakistan to 178-7 in third Bangladesh T20I

Farhan鈥檚 50 lifts Pakistan to 178-7 in third Bangladesh T20I
  • Sahibzada Farhan鈥檚 41-ball 63 studded with five sixes and six boundaries
  • Bangladesh rest five main players after already winning three-match series

DHAKA: Opener Sahibzada Farhan hit a solid half century to guide Pakistan to an improved total of 178-7 in the third and final Twenty20 international against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Thursday.

Farhan鈥檚 41-ball 63 studded with five sixes and six boundaries as well as Hasan Nawaz鈥檚 17-ball 33 with three sixes and a boundary helped Pakistan post a challenging total after they were sent into bat.

Having already won their first-ever T20I series against Pakistan with victories in the first two matches, Bangladesh rested five of their main players including spearhead Mustafizur Rahman.

Pakistan had scored 110 and 125 in the first two matches 鈥 also in Dhaka.

Farhan, who replaced Fakhar Zaman as one of two changes for Pakistan, put on 82 for the opening stand with Saim Ayub who scored a 15-ball 21 with a six and two boundaries.

Farhan, 29, fell in the 12th over to spinner Nasum Ahmed who finished with 2-22 in his four overs. Pacer Taskin Ahmed took 3-38.

Mohammad Nawaz, who scored 16-ball 27 with two sixes and as many fours, and skipper Salman Agha made 12 to help Pakistan add 46 runs in the last five overs.