Baghdad
A taped message purportedly from Saddam Hussein aired on an Arab television station this week, calling for jihad against “the U.S.-Zionist-British aggression.” The speaker said the American and British claims of weapons of mass destruction were simply “a cover for their crime of implanting Zionism in the Arab world.” He urged Iraqis to assassinate members of the U.S.-appointed Governing Council, and called for the return of the Baath Party in Iraq and the destruction of Israel. President Bush dismissed the tape as “the same old stuff.” U.S. forces, meanwhile, launched a massive air attack on central Iraq, where Saddam’s Baathist supporters are believed to be concentrated.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
5 thin-skinned cartoons about shooting the messengerCartoons Artists take on unfavorable weather, a look in the mirror, and more
-
Is Trump's new peacemaking model working in DR Congo?Talking Point Truce brokered by the US president in June is holding, but foundations of a long-term peace have let to be laid
-
Crossword: August 10, 2025The Week's daily crossword puzzle
