Saddam speaks
The week's news at a glance.
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.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
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.
-
Kurdish PKK militia to disband for Turkey talks
speed read The Kurdistan Workers' Party will disarm after four decades of armed conflict with Turkey, putting an end to 'one of the longest insurgencies in the Middle East'
-
US, China agree to lower tariffs for 90 days
speed read US tariffs will fall to 30% from 145%, while China will cut its tax on US imports to 10% from 125%
-
Qatar luxury jet gift clouds Trump trip to Mideast
speed read Qatar is said to be presenting Trump with a $400 million plane, which would be among the biggest foreign gifts ever received by the US government