Hot Topics:

 

In The News: 

Iraq

Terrorism, Afghanistan, and Sept. 11

 

 

Iraq:

General Sites:

CIA World Factbook 2004:  Iraq
Presents basic information about the country, including details of geography, the people, economy, government, communications, transportation, and military.

Library of Congress Country Studies: Iraq
Offers a profile of the country.  Describes the history of Iraq and analyzes its political, economic, social, and national security systems and institutions.  Also offers information on the Iraqi people, their origins, beliefs, and values. 

 Maps of the Middle East
This site features a set of political and relief maps produced by the CIA, covering all countries in the Arabian Peninsula and the Middle East, including several maps of Iraq.
 

The Current Crisis:

Academic Info: Iraq Studies-Current Crisis and Debate: UN: Iraq Resources
The page provides links to news items and video coverage of United Nations events surrounding the Iraq crisis, as well as official UN reports and documents concerning Iraq and weapons inspections.

Academic Info: Iraq Studies-Current Crisis and Debate: US Gov.: Iraq Resources
Presents U.S. Government documents and reports on the situation in Iraq, including statements by President Bush, interviews with government officials, and State Department documents, as well as reports from other U.S. Government departments..

Conflict - Iraq and the United States: The Journalist's Toolbox
The Journalist's Toolbox presents online resources for reporters and editors.  This site provides links which cover the Iraqi conflict, Iraq and Weapons Inspectors, and background on Iraq.  These include the diverse websites regarding Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi News Agency, UN documents, maps, The Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Military's DeploymentLink.

Monterey Institute of International Studies: Iraq Special Collection
Offers articles and reports relating to the current crisis, including UNSCOM documents from the late 1990's.

The New Yorker (Fact): Annals of National Security: Who Lied to Whom?
Presents the article, "Who Lied to Whom?:  Why did the Administration Endorse a Forgery About Iraq's Nuclear Program?," by journalist, Seymour Hersh.  Published in The New Yorker on March 31, 2003, the article examines the credibility of the information which led the Bush Administration and Britain to claim that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.

U.S. Department of State: Iraq Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 1998
This site offers a detailed assessment of human rights practices in Iraq, including torture, arbitrary detention and exile, and freedom of speech and the press.

 War with Iraq: Costs, Consequences, and Alternatives
This site presents a 93-page report from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Committee on International Security Studies.  It examines the political, military, and economic consequences of war with Iraq.

The War on Terrorism: Saddam Hussein and Iraq (East Carolina University)
The Joyner Library of East Carolina University has compiled a wealth of links in the sections:  Attack on America; Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaida; Saddam Hussein and Iraq; News, Commentary, and Analysis; Afghanistan and the Taliban; post-Saddam Iraq.
 


 

Peace Activism Against the War:

Academic Info: Iraq Studies-Current Crisis and Debate: Peace Studies: No Iraq War
Presents documents and news items on the peace activities of those opposed to a war with Iraq.

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace:  Reconstructing Iraq
Provides news, analysis, and Internet resources on the latest developments in the country.

United for Peace and Justice
This group is comprised of national, regional, and local groups throughout the U.S. which were dedicated to preventing war with Iraq.  From the main page, you can link to background articles and information on the war with Iraq.The site also publicizes events protesting corporate involvement in the war and reconstruction.
 

The Latest News:

From American news organizations:
ABC News
CBS News
CNN International.com
The International Herald Tribune
MSNBC News
The New York Times
Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)
The Washington Post

From British news organizations:
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
The Guardian Unlimited
The Times
 

From the Middle East:

Al Arabiya News Channel
This site offers a history and profile of the Arab broadcasting organization based in Dubai. Also included are descriptions of some of the major programs available from the news channel.

AlJazeera.net
This is the English language website of the Arab broadcasting organization, Al Jazeera. The Al Jazeera network is one of the primary sources for news within the Middle East.

Cursor's Al-Jazeera Link
This site is published by Cursor, a non-profit organization in Minneapolis, which "educates the public on the relationship between media and society."  It provides links on Google to information about news stories covered by Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya. Also links to the Arab news networks, themselves.

NewsTrove.com: Al Jazeera - All the Current Al Jazeera News
NewsTrove.com, a site which provides keyword searching for over 7,000 news publications, has published this site.  Articles in various press publications are on stories which have appeared on Al Jazeera and are summarized here.
 
 

From the Alternative Press:


(Iraq) Voices of Dissent:  Finding the Alternative Press On-Line
Presents links to "alternative" American and Canadian publications.  Published by the Leddy Library of the University of Windsor, Canada.
 


Terrorism, Afghanistan, and September 11:

Preparedness:

 The American Red Cross
 Federal Emergency Management Agency
 Ready Campaign
 U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Emergency Responders: Drastically Underfunded, Dangerously Unprepared
      (Independent Task Force Report - Council on Foreign Relations)

 

Terrorism:

Backgrounder: Terrorism
The National Security Institute offers information on terrorism, which is defined as "the use of force or violence against persons or property in violation of the criminal laws of the United States for purposes of intimidation, coercion, or ransom." The site discusses biological and chemical weapons, as well as facts about terrorism.

Journal of Homeland Security
ANSER, a nonprofit research institute located in Arlington, Virginia, publishes the "Journal
of Homeland Security." The electronic journal contains articles, commentary, interviews, book reviews, and information about national security, terrorism, missile defense, and other related topics.

Response to Terrorism
The Office of International Information Programs (IIP) of the U.S. Department of State offers official texts and commentaries on terrorism. Includes documents on responding to terrorism, and the trials of terrorists. Also presents fact sheets, government reports, and information on counter-terrorism.

U.S. State Department: The Secretary of State: Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism: Annual Reports
Features the full text of annual reports on terrorism from 1995 to 1999 provided by the Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism of the State Department. Reports include "Foreign Terrorist Organizations Designations," "Patterns of Global Terrorism," and "Significant Incidents of Political Violence Against Americans." This is a permanent archive of information released prior to Jan. 20, 2001. For material released since George W. Bush took office, see the website of United States Department of State which offers more current information and reports on terrorism. 

Bioterrorism: 

Assessing the Threat of Bioterrorism: Congressional Testimony by Raymond Zilinskas
The Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, located in Monterey, California, offers the full text of the October 20, 1999 Congressional testimony of Raymond Zilinskas, bioterrorism expert. Zilinskas discusses an ongoing project to assess applications of advanced biotechnologies for terrorist and criminal purposes, and comments on the biological threats to society. Zilinskas testified before the Subcommittee on National Security, Veterans Affairs, and International Relations.

Biological Weapons and Warfare
David M. Sander presents a collection of Internet resources on biological weapons and warfare as part of "All the Virology on the WWW." Sander offers links to nongovernmental organizations, U.S. government Web sites, and Russian and Israeli information on biological weapons and warfare.

Bioterrorism
The American College of Physicians and the American Society of Internal Medicine presents a collection of articles and Internet resources intended for practicing physicians concerning biological terrorism. The information contains the answers to questions about biological weapons, reporting suspected biological terrorism, and the most dangerous biological weapons.

Bioterrorism and Bioweapons Special Report
Reed Business Information Ltd. presents a collection of news articles related to bioterrorism
and bioweapons, as part of NewScientist.com. The articles highlight the possible threats of bioterrorism, plans to deter possible terrorist attacks, and agreements and treaties related to arms control.

Chemical and Biological Weapons Control Program
The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) discusses its Chemical and Biological Arms Control Program, which covers all aspects of chemical and biological weapons and their
control. The program is focused on efforts to prevent the development and use of biological weapons and the further proliferation of biological weapons programs. FAS details
agricultural biowarfare and bioterrorism.

Congressional Research Service (CRS) Issue Brief: Iraqi Chemical and Biological Weapons (CBW) Capabilities
Offers the report "Iraqi Chemical and Biological Weapons (CBW) Capabilities," written by
Steve Bowman in April 1998 for the Congressional Research Service (CRS). Details
obstructions to United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) inspections and the
destruction of large amounts of CBW in Iraq.

Controlling Biological Weapons: It's Time for Action
The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) presents the full text of several articles on
controlling biological weapons from the "FAS Public Interest Report." The articles cover
topics including averting the exploitation of biotechnology, the Arms Sales Monitoring
Project, and the battle over nuclear weapons.

Domestic Preparedness Program in the Defense Against Weapons of Mass Destruction
The U.S. Department of Defense presents the full text of a May 1, 1997 report to Congress entitled "Domestic Preparedness Program in the Defense Against Weapons of Mass Destruction." The report discusses the types and characteristics of chemical and biological threats, unmet training and other requirements, and the department plan for assistance in equipping, training, and assisting first responders.

Prolifration: Threat and Response
Offers access to "Proliferation: Threat and Response," a 1997 report from the United
States Department of Defense. Details nuclear, biological, chemical, and other weapon proliferation in Asian, Middle Eastern, and former Soviet areas. Provides access to
related news releases and a press briefing transcript. Links to related sites.

Texas Department of Health: Bioterrorism
The Texas Department of Health offers information about how bioterrorism weapons can be used and the illnesses that will result from the use of biological or chemical weapons. The department provides access to fact sheets, FAQs, contacts, and links to related Web sites. The available diagnostic and event management tools are also described.

Toward a National Strategy for Combating Terrorism
RAND, headquartered in Santa Monica, California, presents the full text of the December 15, 2000 report entitled "Toward a National Strategy for Combating Terrorism." The report was compiled by the Advisory Panel to Assess Domestic Response Capabilities for Terrorism Involving Weapons of Mass Destruction. The report highlights the need for a national strategy, a senior authority to be in charge of the planning, and the strength of functional capabilities of all levels of government in order to prevent or respond to terrorist acts.

Uncommon Knowledge: Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide: Bioterrorism
The Hoover Institution at Stanford University presents the transcript of "Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide: Bioterrorism," a May 28, 1998 segment of the series "Uncommon Knowledge," which was broadcast by Pubic Broadcasting Service (PBS) stations and on National Public Radio (NPR). The program focused on the use of chemical and biological weapons by terrorists.

Terrorist Attacks Against the U.S. - September 11

 

The Latest News:

These sites offer the latest reports on the war in Afghanistan, the situation in the Middle East, the search for terrorists worldwide, the excavation efforts in New York City, and actions by the President, his staff, and Congress. 

Reports and Reference

 

America's War Against Terrorism: World Trade Center/Pentagon Terrorism and the Aftermath
This comprehensive site is compiled by the University of Michigan Documents Center.

The Avalon Project at Yale Law School: September 11, 2001: Attack on America
Comprehensive gathering of important statements, briefings, press relaeses, memos, proclamations, and Congressional resolutions from September 11 and the days following. Searchable by key word.

National Public Radio: World Trade Center
National Public Radio (NPR) features the September 12, 2001 item entitled "The World Trade Center." Highlighted is the history of the skyscraper complex, which had been previously attacked in 1993. Links to NPR live coverage of the attack, statements by the President and Secretary of State immediately after the event, and NPR coverage on topics such as the investigation, cost of the tragedy, and world reaction to the attacks.

The September 11 Digital Archive: Saving the Histories of September 11, 2001
Presents stories, still images, moving images, audio, documents, and links to other websites to present the history of the September 11, 2001 attacks. The site is funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and organized by the American Social History Project at the City University of New York and the Center for History and New Media at George Mason University.

September 11 Web Archive
This site is compiled by the Library of Congress, the Internet Archive, WebArchivist.org, and the Pew Internet and American Life Project. Preserves the web expressions of individuals, groups, the press, and institutions from the U.S. and around the world in the aftermath of the attacts on September 11, 2001.

U.S. News Briefings: War on Terrorism
U.S. News and World Report Inc. offers a collection of documents, reports, and statements about the September terrorist attack on the United States.

World Shock Over U.S. Attacks
Cable News Network, Inc. (CNN) offers the full text of the September 11, 2001 article entitled "World Shock Over U.S. Attacks." The article highlights reactions of world leaders to the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001. Leaders express their condolences and support.

World Trade Center
Information about the World Trade Center, which was the 110-stories tall skyscraper built by Yamasaki and Associates in 1970 and completed in 1977. Information about the construction of the building, as well as drawings and photographs of and from the building are available as a part of the online Great Buildings Collection.

Other Site: 

Children Need Reassurance in Face of Tragedy (CNN)
An interview with certified trauma specialist, Dr. Jeffrey Mitchell, on how to help children through the tragic events of the terrorist attacks.

Afghanistan: 

 

Background Information:

Afghanistan
Offers information on Afghanistan, provided by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in their Fact Book. Includes a map and an image of the national flag, and describes the country's geography, population, government, economy, communication, transportation, and military powers.

Afghanistan (Islamic State of Afghanistan)
The Center for Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Texas at Austin presents a collection of Internet resources on the country. Links include access to resources on arts and culture, business, the economy, politics, government, history, and relief organizations.

Maps:

Perry-Castaneda Library Map Collection: Afghanistan Maps
Excellent site which offers extensive country and city maps, a number of which have been provided by the CIA. There are also thematic and historical maps as well as links to maps of Afghanistan on other web sites, including maps which show the progress of the war on a daily basis. 
 

The Taliban:

Mullah with a Mission
Time, Inc. provides an article written by Tim McGirk that originally appeared in the March 31, 1997 issue of the Asia issue of "Time." Focuses on Mullah Omar, the spiritual leader of the Taliban.

U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) Special Report: The Taliban and Afghanistan
A report from October 1998 details the history of the Taliban and the civil war in the country.
 

 

Women's Rights and Human Rights: 

Feminist Majority Foundation: The Taliban and Afghan Women -- Background
Presents background information on the treatment of women under the Taliban regime as well as on the current campaign to help Afghan women and girls "win the full and permanent restoration of women's rights, promote the leadership of women in the planning and governing of post-Taliban Afghanistan and increase and monitor the provision of emergency and reconstruction assistance ot women and girls."

Human Rights in Afghanistan
Derechos Human Rights describes how the Taliban enforced its extremist version of Islamic law, which resulted in the oppression of women, as well as the corporal and capital punishment of political prisoners.

Women and Girls in Afghanistan
A fact sheet, released by the U.S. Department of State Senior Coordinator for Women's Issues on March 10, 1998. Examines human rights violations of women and girls in Afghanistan by the Taliban.

Osama bin Laden: 

Cable News Network (CNN) March 1997 Interview with Osama bin Laden
In this 1997 interview with bin Laden, the Saudi Arabian terrorist, he describes his criticisms of the Saudi royal family, his animosity toward the United states, his experiences during the Afghan war, and his life in exile from Saudi Arabia

Many Portraits of Osama bin Laden
Time, Inc. presents a collection of articles about the terrorist, who has been associated with numerous terrorist attacks, including the September 11 attacks as well as the bombing of the U.S. Embassy in East Africa.

Osama bin Laden
The Anti-Defamation League presents an August 20, 1998 press release which explains that bin Laden has been accused of financing and developing deadly terrorist attacks against Americans and Israelis, and as a result was stripped of his Saudi citizenship. Listed are terrorist attacks linked to bin Laden.

Osama bin Laden: Marketing Terrorism
The International Policy Institute for Counter-Terrorism in Israel presents this August 1998 article which includes a biographical sketch and emphasizes bin Laden's ability to market his cause.

U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Ten Most Wanted Fugitives: Usama Bin Laden
The FBI's "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" poster for bin Laden.

Usamah Bin Mohamad Bin Laden (Osama bin-Laden)
The Emergency Response and Research Institute provides a biographical sketch and highlights bin Laden's terrorist attacks.

Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Terrorism and Usama Bin Laden
The Center for Nonproliferation Studies of the Monterey Institute of International Studies presents the report, "Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Terrorism and Usama bin Laden," which highlights the efforts of bin Laden to acquire weapons of mass destruction. 



 


 
 

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