Zero-hour approaches
The months and the weeks are over, and it's only a matter of days before America invades Iraq. Khaled Dawoud reports from Washington

Out on a limb
With the countdown to war under way, British Prime Minister Tony Blair may be staking his career on a dubious gamble, reports Nyier Abdou in London

Bracing for the shock
An "oil shock" seems inevitable after war, Michael Jansen reports

How much is enough?
Ankara has finally allowed US troops on its soil but at what price? Gareth Jenkins reports from Istanbul

A friend to all
With a few "Satans" in its own closet, Russian diplomacy is making steady gains against the backdrop of the current disarmament crisis, Shohdy Naguib reports from Moscow

Tug of war
As Europe stands divided like never before over Iraq, the massive anti-war demonstrations have taken some of the wind out of the sails of the pro-war Europeans, writes Gamal Nkrumah

Arab apathy
The Arabs are facing a situation fraught with great uncertainties. When will they stand up and be counted? Omayma Abdel-Latif asks Arab intellectuals

A guarded friendship
Thirteen years after Iraq's invasion of their country, Kuwaitis still have mixed feelings towards their Arab neighbour. Judit Neurink reports from Kuwait City

In solidarity
The venue was the Hong Kong Theatre at the London School of Economics (LSE), and the main event was a video-conference lecture by the inimitable Edward Said, reports Tarek Atia

'No support for war'
Veteran British leftist fireband and former parliamentarian, Tony Benn, 77, left the cosy comfort of his home in the London district of Notting Hill Gate to take part in the huge anti-war demonstration that rocked the British capital. Benn's fact-finding mission to Baghdad, unauthorised by the British government, was something of an eye-opener. Benn spoke to Assem El-Kersh Al-Ahram's London Bureau chief, about his trip to Iraq, the ramifications of a United States war on Iraq and about prospects for peace

How the West might be won
Peace groups in Britain are in ascendancy as the international anti-war movement flexes its muscle. But Nyier Abdou asks whether they have enough influence to change the course of history

Confronting the empire
The present crisis has demonstrated the ambitions of the United States -- nothing short of bringing the entire planet under its military control, writes Samir Amin