War Coverage

Kurd Gun Trade
End of the war in Iraq means tough times for the country’s gun traders: With principal fighting done, the Sulaymaniyah gun market is still lively, but it's a buyer's market now -- peace has been bad for business. The gun bazaar started in 1991, when the Kurdish self-rule region of northern Iraq began. People felt they needed guns to protect themselves from Saddam's wrath. Now, Saddam's gone. But two weeks ago, the Kurdish government declared all buying and selling of weapons illegal; even licensed dealers had their permits rescinded -- but this hasn't stopped the gun market. Prices have dropped because if you buy a gun, chances are the U.S. military will take it away from you. The U.S. has set up checkpoints around many of Iraq's cities.
Aired: April 30, 2003
Reporter: Borzou Daragahi

Dollar vs. Dinar
The dollar should be really strong in Iraq -- but the dinar is gaining: Unlike nearly every country in the world, Iraq has a completely free economy right now -- there are no regulations, no laws and no rules. But something very strange is happening in Iraq now: the Iraqi dinar is gaining value against the dollar. The dinar has doubled its value against the dollar in the last week. Why? Rumors of things like Saddam’s return have raised its value. But some say it’s not the rumor mill that’s driving the dinar -- it’s all about money supply. With millions of dollars pouring into the country, and no new dinars being printed, it's simple supply and demand driving the dinar up, and the dollar down. While, in most countries, the value of the currency is usually watched by a central bank, Iraq's Central Bank was destroyed by looters after the regime fell. Iraq once had one of the world's most tightly controlled economies.
Aired: April 29, 2003
Reporter: Adam Davidson

The Former "Mayor of Iraq"
Reporter spends time with Mohamed al-Zubeidi on his last full day in office: Late Sunday, in Baghdad, U.S. forces arrested Mohamed al-Zubeidi, the man who proclaimed himself mayor of the city. U.S. officials say he was asserting power he just doesn't have. When he declared himself mayor on April 8, he set up a new city hall in the coffeeshop of the Sheraton Hotel and met with jobseekers. He said that his No. 1 job was to get city employees back on the payroll. But some say that Zubeidi was taking on a bigger role than his office suggests -- even if he were the duly elected mayor of Baghdad. Why did people turn to Zubeidi if he had no authority? The reason is simple: there is no one else to go to. And, now that Zubeidi is in jail, residents have no government representative, legitimate or otherwise, to turn to.
Aired: April 28, 2003
Reporter: Adam Davidson

Iraqi Families, Now
They wonder how the U.S. presence in their country and the elimination of Saddam Hussein will affect their lives: In the U.S., the debate over the value of the U.S.-led war in Iraq continues. But for families living there, the issues are more immediate and practical: How does the fall of Saddam's regime affect their quality of life? At least for now, families in Baghdad are trying to get by, day-by-day, in this time of scarcity. Many are happy Saddam is out of the picture, but they want water, electricity, their jobs back, and a government they can trust -- and they don’t know if Americans are going to make their lives any better.
Aired: April 24, 2003
Reporter: Adam Davidson

The Looting Of Baba Gurgur
Widespread looting of the city has clouded prospects for a quick recovery in Iraq: The U.S. government was banking on oil from northern Iraq’s relatively undamaged wells to help fund the country’s reconstruction. But looting at the oil processing plant around the Baba Gurgur oil field, near Kirkuk, has gotten in the way. The oil field is dotted with nearly 430 oil wells. So, with Saddam out of power, U.S. forces moved in to protect the field. The military has secured the fields north of Kirkuk, but not Baba Gurgur City, where many oil plant employees live and work. Looters have emptied their homes. Workers want to put the fields back into production, but without offices and homes to work from, they wonder how they can get the oil flowing again.
Aired: April 23, 2003
Reporter: Borzou Daragahi

OPEC Meets To Cut
Cartel to assess post-war oil market and likely cut production: OPEC ministers are heading to Vienna to meet for the first time since war broke out in Iraq. They fear the world is awash in crude after it boosted production in January and February to make up for the expected curb in Iraqi exports. Now that the fighting is over, OPEC members are worried that the oversupply could bring prices crashing down to under $20 a barrel. So, it's widely expected the ministers will decide to cut production to bring supply and demand back into balance. Still, some wonder if drastic cuts could further hurt the wobbly global economy.
Aired: April 23, 2003
Reporter: Kyle James

Commentary - Selling Iraq’s Oil
Getting a handle on production isn’t the only big post-war issue concerning oil: The U.S. policy in Iraq comes down to the most basic question of capitalism: “Who has the right to sell Iraqi oil?” Billions of dollars hang in the balance. This presents the best opportunity for oil companies to make a lot of money getting it out of the ground, says commentator Robert Reich. As for potential buyers of Iraqi oil, no one wants to buy it now because without clear title to it, a buyer might be throwing money down a hole. The world’s big private oil companies are the ones who will have to modernize Iraq’s oil industry -- but France and Russia don’t want to hand over the management of Iraq’s oil industry to the U.S. If Iraq’s oil does belong to the Iraqi people, as Bush says, who is really going to pay to get it out of the ground?
Aired: April 23, 2003
Commentator: Robert Reich

Iraq’s Environmental Disasters
Iraq’s wetlands have suffered from years of neglect and abuse: The most severe problems in Iraq are the ones that were created before this conflict. Saddam, in an effort to push thousands of residents into exile, flooded Iraq’s marshlands, resulting in 10 years of damage to the Gulf ecosystem. In a country like Iraq, environmental protection is more than a luxury: Clean waterways and abundant fish stocks are vital to the infrastructure. This is why international experts are hoping some reconstruction funds might go toward correcting the problems. The Swiss government is funding a UN study of the most pressing post-war ecological problems.
Aired: April 22, 2003
Reporter: Rachel Dornhelm

Commentary- Forgiving National Debts
Commentator says it’s a great idea for Iraq to be free from debt incurred by a dictator: One of the many things still to be decided as the coalition forces work to rebuild Iraq is the issue of debt relief. Proponents argue that the new Iraq should be able to start fresh, free from making payments on Saddam’s tanks. Some say this could set a precedent for other countries -- something commentator James Galbraith says is exactly why it’s a great idea. “The arms merchants and their lenders deserve no sympathy at all,” says Galbraith. “The world has already faced the reality that ‘Highly Indebted Poor Countries’ shouldn’t live under the burden of unpayable debts.”
Aired: April 22, 2003
Commentator: James Galbraith

Arab-Kurd Fight
Kurds’ houses were given away to Arab families by Saddam -- and they want them back: Now that Saddam Hussein’s regime is over in Iraq, many Kurds want to return to the homes the government took away from them. But in the neighborhoods of newly liberated Kirkuk, their property has since been redistributed to Arab families, who aren’t exactly willing to just pack up and move out. But Arab residents say they're fed up with armed Kurds looting their homes and businesses. Under Saddam's rule, the Arabs enjoyed economic privileges -- now, America has taken over and the tables are turned. Kurds run the show, and Arabs are angry.
Aired: April 22, 2003
Reporter: Borzou Daragahi

Jumpstarting Iraq’s Economy
Author John Mickelthwaite talks about exporting the idea of the "modern company" to Iraq: Plans are being put into motion to jumpstart Iraq’s economy. But Economist editor and author John Mickelthwaite has an unconventional idea: encourage Iraq’s homegrown entrepreneurs. He says the modern publicly held company has a had a substantial impact on the U.S. and other Western economies: it has changed and spurred productivity and it has a definite liberal effect on the economy and business. Iraq has one company, he says -- the Iraqi National Oil Company -- which is a state-run monopoly. What Iraq needs is a lot of small companies that provide competition and innovation -- and some privatization.
Aired: April 21, 2003
Reporter: Host Cheryl Glaser interviews author John Mickelthwaite

War Compensation
Reporter says the U.S. needs to compensate victims of the war: The U.S. military has plans to set up a program for Iraqis to submit claims for compensation. The Nation magazine’s David Corn says we should be ready to pay. Corn says that since we intruded on Iraqi society to protect ourselves, Iraqi civilians ended up paying the brunt of this with their lives. Thus, we have an obligation to Iraqis to help them rebuild, directly compensating them and reconstructing the communities that suffered from accidental bombings. This could help show the world that we’re not imperialist or colonialist, and that we do care for countries that we invade for our own good, he says.
Aired: April 21, 2003
Reporter: Host Tess Vigeland talks to reporter David Corn

OPEC & the “Iraqi Minister”
Who will represent Iraq at OPEC’s table is the subject of much speculation and political jockeying in Baghdad: OPEC meets on Wednesday to talk about possibly lowering oil production, and the self-appointed governor of Baghdad is determined to send his minister to the meeting to represent the interests of Iraq. U.S. officials say, “No way.” Some say the idea does get the U.S. off the hook of dictating too much about the future of Iraq’s oil industry. Others have argued that there shouldn’t be any official Iraqi representation at OPEC because the country’s oil production won’t be determined by OPEC for some time now.
Aired: April 21, 2003
Reporter: John Dimsdale

Interview - War & The Airlines
A discussion with Virgin CEO, Richard Branson: Virgin's founder, Richard Branson, has been angling to get rights for commercial air service between London and Baghdad, once things calm down in Iraq. Marketplace host David Brancaccio talks with Branson about his company’s humanitarian aid plans for Iraq and his suggestions for the struggling U.S. airline industry.
Aired: April 21, 2003
Reporter: Host David Brancaccio talks with Richard Branson

Commentary - World War IV
Commentator says we’re deep in the middle of World War IV, struggling against the forces of dictatorship and terrorism: According to commentator Larry Haas, we’re already in the middle of World War IV, a costly long-term fight. “We clearly feel the right to intervene wherever and whenever the need arises,” says Haas. But we have an economic policy that is squandering our wealth and making our new global role less affordable. “So, before long, when America wants to pre-empt a threat from overseas, we just might not have the funds to do it,” Haas says.
Aired: April 21, 2003
Commentator: Larry Haas

Reclaiming Iraqi Property
Iraqi families forced out of their homes under Saddam’s regime return, only to find others staking claim to them: In Baghdad’s most upscale neighborhood, Mansour, families are returning to their houses for the first time in years. Some were forcibly evicted when Saddam’s secret police took over their houses -- houses that have been recently abandoned. Problem is, when families return, others are claiming the land around their homes, or even the homes themselves, because they were evicted and tortured by the secret police years ago, too. When the government offices reopen in the city, residents will most likely be able to work out such claims.
Aired: April 18, 2003
Reporter: Adam Davidson

U.S. & the Iraqi Infrastructure
Army Civil Affairs units assume the job of bringing normalcy back to Iraq: The U.S. says the war with Iraq is not over until the country is rehabilitated, the infrastructure improved, and a new government in place. So, the Army Civil Affairs unit is identifying Iraqi professionals who can undo damage caused by war. Every day in front of the Palestine Hotel in Baghdad, Iraqi engineers and managers line up next to the barbed wire fencing and beg to be let in to meet with the Army. But only a handful of people, like top managers, talk their way in. Civil Affairs officers instruct them to find employees and get them back to their jobs. Some, like power plant employees, have returned to work. But with power out in the city and armed bands of looters on the streets, it’s not easy to get power back.
Aired: April 18, 2003
Reporter: Adam Davidson

Telecom Industry & Iraq
Companies are vying to reconstruct Iraq’s downed phone system: Phone service in Iraq is down for the count, and in need of some serious TLC. One of the first steps in rebuilding Iraq is opening the lines of communication. While there is a network of wire lines that is antiquated, and much of it copper, it requires a complete overhaul that is said to be quite costly. That’s why some say it would be more economical to go straight into a mobile network. A UN study estimates it’ll cost nearly one billion dollars to overhaul the landline network in Iraq, compared to hundreds of millions to erect towers and receivers for cellular technology. And, that means huge telecommunications contracts for some firms.
Aired: April 17, 2003
Reporter: Cynthia Ingle

American Broadcasting In Iraq
A look at U.S. efforts to determine an appropriate salary scale for reconstruction workers in Iraq: As part of the effort to reconstruct Iraq into a functioning democracy, the U.S. government is licensing American news sources for rebroadcast on Iraqi airwaves. Marketplace host David Brancaccio talks with media analyst Marty Kaplan about the implications this has at home, and for the Iraqi people.
Aired: April 16, 2003
Reporter: Host David Brancaccio talks with media analyst Marty Kaplan

Iraqi Salaries?
A look at U.S. efforts to determine an appropriate salary scale for reconstruction workers in Iraq: Turns out, rebuilding a country from the ground up requires a sophisticated human resources department to tackle this difficult task. But before the war even started, some salaries in Iraq were very low -- around $30 per month. Is this representative of the whole country? It’s difficult to tell because Saddam never released any employment figures. And, banking institutions need hard numbers, like per capita income, to determine how to make loans. So, U.S. officials will have their work cut out for them when trying to figure out a payroll for millions of workers.
Aired: April 16, 2003
Reporter: Jeff Tyler

Baghdad Gas Shortages
The devaluation of the Iraqi dinar is just the tip of the iceberg in Baghdad: With dollars flowing into Iraq, and without a government or currency market to regulate Iraqi dinars, no one seems to know how much an old dinar is worth. But reporter Adam Davidson says it’ll take more than just cash to get the economy moving again. With electricity out and gas stations shut down around Baghdad, there’s a shortage of gasoline. The gas shortage may be one of the huge barriers to rebuilding the infrastructure for one simple reason: no one can get to work.
Aired: April 16, 2003
Reporter: Adam Davidson

Commentary - Looting In Iraq
It’ll be tough to stop that behavior since what drives the behavior is something far more complicated than greed: The looting in Iraq has reached a stage where almost anything that isn’t nailed down is hauled off by the desperate populace. This includes even objects that have no resale value whatsoever. What’s the motivation behind taking anything regardless of value? Commentator and sociologist Craig Jenkins says that since the brutal, hated regime has fallen, Iraqis are attacking its symbols of power.
Aired: April 14, 2003
Commentator: Craig Jenkins

Baghdad Growth Industry
A report from the streets of Baghdad, where looting has created a chaotic situation in the Iraqi capital: In Baghdad, there is still sporadic gunfire, but the looting has ebbed and an increasing number of Iraqis felt confident enough to venture out of their houses today. So, taxicabs returned to the streets -- yet, nothing is normal. Our reporter Adam Davidson spotted just one restaurant open today -- and said that a major growth industry in the Iraqi capital right now is in…death.
Aired: April 14, 2003
Reporter: Adam Davidson

"Invisible" Leader
New tribal leader hasn’t done much to improve things on the street: British forces are struggling to keep the peace in the southern city of Basra. They’ve named a local tribal sheik leader of the city and appointed new heads of police and civil defense. Problem is, many people in Basra don’t know there is a tribal leader at all. Residents say that there must be security because only then can water and electricity come back to Iraq’s second-largest city. Every person in Basra who had any kind of official state role has disappeared. And, people are inundating the office of the International Committee of the Red Cross to get it to impose some kind of order. British troops did appear to be doing police duty at the city’s biggest bank. While many in the city hated Saddam, he did bring order to Basra -- something residents long for now.
Aired: April 11, 2003
Reporter: Adam Davidson

Shortages in Umm Qasr
Food, water and medical shortages in the port city are undercutting efforts to restore security and utilities: While coalition troops are beginning to replace the infrastructure of Iraq, some in the country believe it’ll be a long time before Iraq will return to any kind of normalcy. In the port city of Um Qasr, hospitals are dirty, dangerously low on supplies and fresh water is nowhere to be found. While supplies are starting to arrive, some in the city are still suspicious of American efforts. After they take care of emergency medical care, coalition spokespeople say, they'll start rebuilding the local economy.
Aired: April 10, 2003
Reporter: Adam Davidson

Kirkuk’s Wells
U.S. forces are working closely with the Kurdish “peshmerga,” or militia: In the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, a crowd of cheering people toppled an enormous statue of Saddam Hussein after Kurdish forces took control of Kirkuk. Unlike oil regions of southern Iraq, the wells of Kirkuk, the second-largest oil hub in the country, are said to be in good shape. U.S. Special Forces have been very active in this area for some time and could have stopped destruction of the wells. But even if the Kurds are physically in control of Kirkuk’s wells now, they’re closely cooperating with coalition command. Daragahi says the wells there could soon be under the control of coalition forces -- namely, the Americans -- soon.
Aired: April 10, 2003
Reporter: Host Cheryl Glaser talks with correspondent Borzou Daragahi

Troubled Humanitarian Efforts
It’s difficult to provide humanitarian aid to the Iraqi people now: The breakdown of civil order in Iraq’s major cities is causing problems for those trying to distribute humanitarian aid. In Umm Qasr, the situation is much the same. As reporter Jennifer Glasse says, there is running water now, but not running drinking water. There’s also a real black market for water, which has made distribution of aid more difficult. Security of the city comes under the umbrella of the British forces there -- but security is still the major problem now, as the aid is coming in, but demands on distribution have slowed things down. Some say the successful “oil for food” model should be followed to get things moving again.
Aired: April 10, 2003
Reporter: Host Tess Vigeland interviews Jennifer Glasse

Iraqi Governance Vacuum
Economist reporter Margret Doyle explores the emerging power structure in Iraq: The Bush administration is hoping for a bit of normalcy on the ground in Iraq in the next few months, with a new government in place in about 2 years. It’s a fairly ambitious timetable, says Economist reporter Margret Doyle. Who would be involved in getting a new government up and running, and for helping to stabilize Iraq’s oil industry? Ahmed Chalabi, an Iraqi exile and head of the Iraqi National Congress, is favored by Pentagon, but mistrusted by the CIA and State Department. And, Jay Garner, head of Office For Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance, is viewed as a bit of a suspicious character by some Arabs for his support of Israel.
Aired: April 10, 2003
Reporter: Host Kai Ryssdal interviews Economist reporter Margret Doyle

Humanitarian Needs
U.S.-led coalition, others pledge to deliver food, clean water and temporary shelter for displaced: For 12 years, international sanctions imposed on Iraq have helped erode public health and basic infrastructure, but recent bombing has destroyed basic services. Supplies of water and power are low and hospitals are overwhelmed with serious injuries. The World Health Organization has supplies in neighboring countries and skilled staff waiting for the UN to certify that it’s safe to go in. But they don’t have enough money to fund some basic services. The USAID team doesn’t have this problem: there are over-filling warehouses in Amman and Dubai. USAID also has hundreds of technical experts in food distribution, sanitation and housing ready to move. Supplies will follow.
Aired: April 9, 2003
Reporter: Helen Palmer

Iraqi Boomtown
Signs of life returning to militant group’s former stronghold of Biyare: U.S. forces and Kurdish militiamen launched a sweeping attack on militant group Ansar al Islam -- and the group fled Biyare, in northern Iraq. So, the local Kurds started assuming their regular lives there again. This once-joyous resort town is now coming back to life. Singing has resumed in the streets, businesses are setting up shop, satellite TV is coming back again. But under Ansar, paradise for the Kurds turned into hell as their freedoms and pleasures disappeared. While there is much destruction from coalition forces now, residents who remain are just happy to be liberated.
Aired: April 8, 2003
Reporter: Borzou Daragahi

Commentary - Odious Debt
Commentator says it’s attractive -- but is it wise? Repudiating Iraq's debts and blaming them on Saddam Hussein could appeal to those involved in the reconstruction efforts who want to use the money more productively, says the Economist’s Graham Ingham. But it might not make sense to undermine the principles on which international finance is based for the sake of punishing France and Russia for their opposition to the war. Writing most Iraqi debt off could be Iraq’s best hope of returning to “economic normality” -- but lenders will wonder where it’ll stop. “It could deprive many poor people of any hope of economic progress, and, perhaps, of democracy as well,” says Ingham.
Aired: April 8, 2003
Reporter: Graham Ingham

Iraqi’s Big Debt
Will Iraq’s creditors have any chance of collecting on their loan? As the coalition forces fight for Baghdad, analysts are looking at the economics of reconstruction. There has been talk of turning Iraq into a prosperous democracy, a model for the Middle East. But a liberated Iraq will have a heavy, and perhaps crippling, burden to bear: huge debts run up by the Saddam regime. Iraq is the most comprehensively bankrupt country in human history. Even allowing for a doubling of oil exports, Iraq won't be able to pay off its debts. Some financial experts have said that as soon as Saddam falls, the debts of his regime should disappear altogether. Others have said an old concept called “Odious Debt” should be revived -- but that’s highly controversial.
Aired: April 8, 2003
Reporter: Stephen Beard

Technology Security
Is "secure" equipment from a foreign company ever really secure? If bombs dropped on a Baghdad building did in fact find Saddam Hussein, it could've been because the Iraqi leader’s voice was intercepted on an encrypted communication system. The British-made Jaguar radios, which were secretly sold to Iraq in the mid-1980s, were supposed to provide secure communication. But the company, Rakal, may have shared the system’s secrets with the British government at the time of the sale. Regardless of whether the company shared secrets, some say the '80s technology system wouldn't be hard to crack today. A company can promise that a system is secure, but considerations of national security will always trump such guarantees.
Aired: April 8, 2003
Reporter: Kim Masters

Iraqi Expatriate Plans
Iraqi expatriates are drawing up their own blueprint for a new Iraq: While it's still unclear how much control Bush is willing to cede to others with interest in Iraq's future, in the U.S., groups of Iraqi expatriates are making their own plans. The Iraq National Group in Washington, DC, founded by an Iraqi expatriate, has 700 members around the world who want to bring their knowledge and acquired skills back to the country that was once theirs. In fact, the U.S. State Department has involved many of them in its “Future of Iraq” project. Some in the organization believe the key to a legitimate democracy in Iraq after Saddam's fall will be self-determination.
Aired: April 7, 2003
Reporter: Amy Scott

Commentary - Governor Of Iraq
Changeover from Saddam to Western system of commerce and government won’t happen smoothly or fast: For months now, the Bush administration has known that “The Day After” the war will be messy. As head of the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance at the Pentagon, Jay Garner will be the de facto governor of some 23 million Iraqis and will implement the reconstruction plans. But as commentator Jeff Birnbaum, Washington bureau chief of Fortune magazine, says, Garner and his people will have to do two nearly impossible things: impose a democracy where there's a dictatorship, and install capitalism where there's central-control socialism. And, America's history at orchestrating such changes in conquered lands is abysmal, says Birnbaum.
Aired: April 7, 2003
Commentator: Jeff Birnbaum

Urban Warfare
Martin Van Crevald talks about the characteristics, strategies and costs of urban warfare: As U.S. troops sweep through Baghdad, a new type of urban warfare is going on. So, why aren't U.S. troops staying and occupying the areas they invade? They want to measure up the resistance to see what the Iraqi soldiers are capable of, says Martin Van Crevald of Jerusalem’s Hebrew University. Urban warfare like this has some characteristics, says Van Crevald: war-related technology won't be as effective in this extreme environment; human costs are very high because of civilian soldiers; and trouble lurks around every corner. This urban warfare results in vast physical destruction.
Aired: April 7, 2003
Reporter: Morning Report host Kai Ryssdal talks to Martin Van Crevald of Jerusalem’s Hebrew University

Iraq’s Reconstruction Players
Foreign companies will be able to bid on Iraq reconstruction contracts -- but what about France and Germany? The U.S.-- not the UN -- will have the lead role in the postwar reconstruction of Iraq. But the U.S. has insisted that foreign countries will be able to participate in the bidding process. While this is all well and good, many European countries, such as outspoken France and Germany, wonder if they’ll be able to win a piece of the lucrative reconstruction action. And, many French businessmen see no reason why they shouldn’t be involved, as French companies have been the largest foreign suppliers to Iraq. Some in the UK disagree, saying that British industry should benefit from the removal of Saddam Hussein.
Aired: April 3, 2003
Reporter: Reporter: Stephen Beard

Commentary - Rebuilding Iraq
Commentator questions who will profit from the repair work: The U.S. government says Iraq will be paying for it its rebuilding out of future oil revenues. “So, if Iraq is going to foot the bill, who exactly is going to make money doing all of this repair work?” asks commentator Robert Reich. To prove that the major U.S. corporations don’t set U.S. policy, Bush would most likely want the effort to be a global effort -- not one just made up of large American corporations. Problem is, the rebuilding is going to be done by, well, large American corporations as contractors will be working with “classified information.” While these corporations are headquartered in the U.S., they have executives and shareholders worldwide. “So, in a way, the rebuilding of Iraq will be a global effort -- even if the Bush administration hasn’t designed it that way.”
Aired: April 2, 2003
Commentator: Robert Reich

Iraqi Oil Fields
Does Iraq have the capacity to pump oil needed to pay for its reconstruction after the war?: Rebuilding Iraq will cost billions of dollars, and much of which is supposed to come from Iraqi oil. Problem is, nine fields were set on fire by retreating Iraqi soldiers, and three are still burning now. Putting out the fire is the easy part, say workers -- it’s stopping the gusher that’s hard. Fire is the least of Iraq’s problems right now. Throughout the country, the oil development equipment is 20 years out of date. And, it will take many years to get the country’s oil production up to the 8 million barrels per day it’s supposed to be capable of.
Aired: April 2, 2003
Reporter: Adam Davidson

Report From Baghdad
David Brancaccio talks with correspondent Jon Lee Anderson, who’s on the ground in Baghdad: In Baghdad, Iraqis continue to preserve some daily rhythms in their lives. People are starting to do some shopping again when the bombing slows down, but they’re mainly going to sidewalk vendors, not shops. Top sellers are canisters for fuel and oil lamps. Since Baghdad is now without telephone service after bombing raids, many are more worried about getting in touch with their families. Many Iraqis are getting their information from recently restored Iraqi TV. Still, as "New Yorker" reporter Jon Lee Anderson says, there is no outward hostility toward Americans that he has noticed.
Aired: April 1, 2003
Reporter: Host David Brancaccio talks with correspondent Jon Lee Anderson

Rebuilding Iraq
Jennifer Glasse reports from Kuwait on the Ramallah oil fields and the port at Umm Kasr: As Iraq continues to get pounded from the air and ground, there’s also a push to get Iraq's commercial infrastructure up and running again. Kuwaiti and Texan firefighters are now working to put out fires in the Ramallah oil fields, near the border of Kuwait. Oil could start flowing again soon, depending on the infrastructure further down the pipeline: the port at Umm Kasr. The port, which is partially open, is very important to the Allies’ future military plans, as it’s Iraq’s only deep-water port bringing in military reinforcements. It will be key to Iraq’s future because it’s the country’s only connection to the Persian Gulf.
Aired: March 31, 2003
Reporter: Jennifer Glasse

Martyr Money
Humanitarian assistance, or paying for terrorism?: Even as U.S. tanks roll closer to Baghdad, Saddam Hussein continues paying money to the families of suicide bombers. Families of Palestinian suicide bombers get $25,000 from Iraq after the attack. And, the money seems to help, as more than half the Palestinian working population is unemployed. In the Palestinian territories, Saddam is not a cruel dictator, but a generous supporter supporting the Palestinian cause. The large sum of money allows those families to upgrade their social economic status -- but at the expense of others.
Aired: March 31, 2003
Reporter: Jessica Smith

Kurdish Advance
Kurds return jubilantly to Kirkuk: In 1992, the Kurds carved out a piece from northern Iraq and set up an autonomous region. Now, after attacks from U.S. troops, Iraqi soldiers abandoned their positions and retreated. With the departure of Saddam’s troops from Kirkuk in the mountains of northern Iraq, Kurds have raced up the hills to the city that was once their own. Problem is, the city sits on top of oil other people want. But the Kurds have promised the U.S. they won’t attack Kirkuk, and the Americans won’t let the Turks into the country.
Aired: March 28, 2003
Reporter: Borzou Daragahi

Unembedded Journalists
Unilaterals going it alone worry news organizations, but can uncover stories those escorted by troops can’t: Embedded reporters traveling with the military have supplied news from the frontlines; unilaterals going out alone do as well -- but they have a much tougher time. Many say it’s too risky to stray far from troops now. But unilateral reporters have been able to provide information that embedded reporters can’t get to. That’s why some news organizations keep them in the field -­- but some say it’s not worth the risk. And, reporters moving on their own can expect little help from the troops. Unilaterals can even be expelled by the military for disclosing sensitive information.
Aired: March 27, 2003
Reporter: Kim Masters

Movements in Northern Iraq
Borzou Daragahi reports on U.S. troop movements and security of oil fields in northern Iraq: The big news is that American paratroopers have landed in northern Iraq, opening the Pentagon’s second front. This is seen as advantageous because the U.S. can build up troops to attack the oil-rich cities of Kirkuk and Mosul, which have been fought over by Arabs and Kurds and for decades, to protect the oil fields and secure the region. The two cities hold the key to the main economic resources of northern Iraq. More chaos will likely ensue for people living there as economic activity is at a standstill now.
Aired: March 27, 2003
Reporter: Host Kai Ryssdal interviews reporter Borzou Daragahi

Baghdad Commerce Closes
After bombing, very little economic activity is going on in Baghdad now: As the war goes on, large businesses and small shops have closed down -- only vendors selling food and vegetables are making any money right now. The price of vegetables and locally produced foods has risen by about 50 percent. Shops open around mid-morning for a couple of hours, as the bombing raids have mostly been during the night, leaving lengthy periods of lulls during daylight hours. Many shops worry about looting, and some have moved the goods to their homes to sell. But, largely, economic and business activities are at a standstill.
Aired: March 27, 2003
Host Tess Vigeland interviews Reuters correspondent Nadim Ladki

Chemical Weapon Protection
Military families worry their children fighting are at risk for Gulf War Syndrome: Since 1991, 125,000 soldiers who fought in the first Gulf War have complained of rashes, memory loss and chronic fatigue, now known as “Gulf War Syndrome.” Now, with another war in the same region, the possibility of being exposed has resurfaced. The government has taken steps to track the health of soldiers by taking a “health snapshot” of each soldier before and after deployment. And, the Department of Defense is archiving serum taken from blood samples during regular HIV screening to get a handle on soldiers’ health before they ship out. But some say Americans now in Iraq could get sick -- and scientists still wouldn’t be able to determine the cause due to a lack of data.
Aired: March 26, 2003
Reporter: Cynthia Ingle

Distant Aid Groups
Some aid groups distancing themselves from U.S., U.S. cash, as war goes on: Some humanitarian aid groups are taking philosophical stands against the war. Oxfam International, which has plans to spend at least $2 million delivering aid to Iraq in the next 6 months, won’t take any money from the U.S., Britain or Australia for this reason. Others, like Care International, couldn’t afford to be seen as part the U.S. aggression while on the ground in Iraq. But this isn’t true of all aid groups -- some just want to get the most money possible to help people in Iraq.
Aired: March 26, 2003
Reporter: Amy Scott

Baghdad’s Impending Attack
Host David Brancaccio talks with reporter Jon Lee Anderson about how the upcoming war in Baghdad is affecting the city: As American troops get closer to Baghdad, the streets of the city have become deserted and most commercial businesses are closed. As New Yorker reporter Jon Lee Anderson says, where once people in Baghdad were “oddly neutral,” their opinions, like the city’s business, are now on hold. Many people there want to be liberated, but they don’t want to lose family members at the same time. Many have mixed emotions as the air raid sirens sound…
Aired: March 25, 2003
Reporter: Host David Brancaccio talks with reporter Jon Lee Anderson

Northern Iraq Tug Of War
Saddam, Kurds, Turkey and U.S. try to get control of northern Iraq for different reasons: Northern Iraq is on shaky ground. Why? Well, Saddam controls part of it, the Kurds hope war will give them back Kirkuk, Turkey makes claims on Kirkuk and Mosul, saying the cities were part of the Ottoman Empire, and the U.S. wants to secure its oil fields to benefit a future free Iraq. As reporter Borzou Daragahi says: “When it comes to Iraq's northern oil fields, all the interested parties like to talk of high ideals -- no one mentions the vast riches awaiting the party that wins control.”
Aired: March 24, 2003
Reporter: Borzou Daragahi

Aging Oil Wells
Allies secure southern Iraqi oil fields, but billions needed to bring country's oil industry back to pre-Gulf War days: The allies achieved a major war aim by securing oilfields in southern Iraq before more could be torched by retreating Iraqi soldiers. But it could be years before the fields are pumping at full capacity, as pipelines are worn out and tanks are damaged. The cost for bringing Iraq's oil industry back to where it was before the first Gulf War could run as high as $10 billion.
Aired: March 24, 2003
Reporter: Stephen Beard

Hindered Relief Efforts
Fighting in Umm Qasr getting in the way of UN's world food program: British and American forces are trying to secure the port city of Umm Qasr, Iraq's only outlet to the Persian Gulf. -- and the port through which 60% of UN aid was supposed to arrive. Since the Iraqis are said to be employing guerilla tactics that have prevented efforts to take the port, the area is unsafe for aid agencies to work in. So, it falls to the armies to take care of the Iraqis. The military says its first priority is to open the port so that aid can begin flowing to the people of Iraq.
Aired: March 24, 2003
Reporter: Jennifer Glasse

Iraq’s Currency Speculation
Fortunes of the Swiss Iraqi Dinar rise and fall on public perceptions of how war is going: Traders of the Swiss Iraqi Dinar, Iraq’s currency before Saddam replaced it with the Saddam Dinar, know its value goes up as American forces do better in Iraq. But they seem to be at diverging crossroads: they’d like its value to rise, but they’d also like to see Saddam and Iraq defeat the U.S. While they talk of attacking America to spread Islam, they really just sit in cramped offices trying to make as much money as they can off the Dinar.
Aired: March 24, 2003
Reporter: Adam Davidson

The U.S., Russian Companies & Iraq
Russian companies accused of providing weapons, military assistance to Iraq, violating U.N. sanctions: The White House stepped up its criticism of the Russian government for allowing the sale of military equipment to Iraq. Russia and Iraq have maintained close economic ties for decades: Russian energy companies market nearly half of Iraq’s oil sales and Russian companies exported billions in Iraqi goods over the past year. And, some say weapons sales are important economic link between the two countries. A quick end to the war in Iraq could be the best way for the U.S. and Russia to get back to the business of thawing out the Cold War.
Aired: March 24, 2003
Reporter: John Dimsdale

Rebuilding, American Style
Initial security clearances are limiting contracts for rebuilding Iraq for some companies: The U.S. Agency for International Development is doling out contracts to rebuild roads and hospitals in Iraq when the fighting is done. The process has been largely secret, and political and business leaders from abroad say they’re being shut out, accusing the U.S. of hoarding the lucrative contracts. Some say there’s good reason to limit the competition: security clearance was required, so non-American firms were not entitled. But some don’t see building roads as a security risk.
Aired: March 21, 2003
Reporter: Amy Scott

Commentary - War Production
Commentator walks us through the cost-effectiveness of different options for removing Saddam: Are our war tactics really the most financially wise way to get rid of Saddam? “Couldn't we just have bought him out?” asks commentator and security policy expert Gordon Adams. Sure, but Saddam is making more off of his oil fields. What about sending in a commando unit? Well, failure in Iran was said to cost Jimmy Carter the presidency -- so, maybe not. The most cost-effective method? Contain Saddam with support from the Security Council for $10 billion per year. “But we’re impatient,” says Adams, “so in we go. Trouble is, war is just a down payment.”
Aired: March 20, 2003
Commentator: Gordon Adams

Pre-War Coverage

Letter From Chamchamal, Iraq
Reporter checks in from Chamchamal in northern Iraq: a front-row seat in the upcoming war: The city of Chamchamal is the closest point in northern Iraq to Kirkuk, the oil-rich city that will likely be a major flashpoint in the war with Iraq. Reporter Borzou Daragahi is holed up there, observing the changes taking place close to the Iraqi frontlines. Smugglers lurch along dirt roads nearby, and many locals are packing up and leaving, panicked by Bush’s recent ultimatum. As Daragahi says, “This would be a beautiful land -- if it weren't hell.”
Aired: March 19, 2003
Reporter: Borzou Daragahi

Baghdad’s Furniture Auctions
Some Iraqis are taking desperate measures to prepare for the unknown: In Baghdad, many are dreading the chaos that may lie ahead. In an effort to maximize cash in hand before U.S.-led air strikes, many are auctioning their furniture -- and, it’s definitely a buyer’s market. But for some Iraqis, the extra money could make all the difference. Buyers plan on patching up the furniture and selling it when the war’s over.
Aired: March 18, 2003
Reporter: Simon Marks

Former Iraqi Nuclear Scientist
Scientist from Iraq says U.S. helped the country get parts to build a nuclear bomb: Scientist Imad Khaddari fled Iraq in 1998 after years of procuring atomic weapons components for the Iraqi regime. He now lives in Canada. Khaddari says, if he had the chance, he would help Iraq again. He believes Iraqis are entitled to defend themselves with any weapon they can get their hands on. And, he says the U.S. inadvertently helped him with the bomb by making the Manhattan project reports available to Iraq, and a microcard-reader company in Chicago helped him decipher it…
Aired: March 14, 2003
Reporter: Ed Ungar
Listen to the full interview

Baghdad Exchange Charging Forward
Even in the face of an impending war, Baghdad Exchange is going gangbusters: While markets and business leaders in the U.S. are holding their breath, waiting to see how the geopolitical situation sorts itself out, the floor of the Baghdad Stock Exchange has come alive with trading action that leaves New York, London and Tokyo in the shade -- it’s up nearly 50 percent in just 7 months. Some say the activity on the trading floor is an outpouring of patriotic fervor -- not an indication that big changes could be just around the corner.
Aired: March 12, 2003
Reporter: Simon Marks

Iraq’s Oil
Oil is both blessing and curse in Iraq: Oil has been a defining characteristic of Iraq's role on the world stage since even before World War I. But what does that mean to the people of Iraq? Many make their living off supporting the industry, and oil has been used to both help and oppress the Iraqi people by its leaders. So, what will come of the country’s oil after a war? Some say contracts for rebuilding the country's oil infrastructure will go to those who support the war now. And, a friendly government in Baghdad will help U.S. business, whether or not that benefits Iraq's people.
Aired: March 11, 2003
Reporter: Borzou Daragahi

Rebuilding Iraq
Companies going into post-war Iraq could encounter hostility from locals: U.S. officials say the Agency for International Development has invited at least five engineering companies to submit bids to repair Iraq after a war. About $900 million will be awarded to the winning company or companies to fix airports, schools and health facilities. Bechtel and Fluor are among the companies interested. But building new roads in Iraq might be easier than building democracy, as Iraqis may not welcome Americans with open arms.
Aired: March 10, 2003
Reporter: John Dimsdale

Iraq: Open For Business
Businesses are still open in Iraq as the country prepares for a possible war: As wars looms over the city of Baghdad, reporter Simon Marks, who is on scene, hasn't noticed much preoccupation in the community over doing business in an area that may quickly become a war zone. While many are worried about their own economic outlook -- most notably, if they'll be able to maintain the same standard of living when Saddam is no longer there -- there have not been any signs of panic in Iraqi banks. And, a lot of the business owners who are leaving Baghdad now are from other countries.
Aired: March 10, 2003
Reporter: Host Cheryl Glaser talks with foreign correspondent Simon Marks

Last Days In Baghdad
Things for Iraqis in Baghdad have become tense as war looms: Many of the major television networks, worried that bombs may soon start falling on Iraq, are pulling their reporters out -- if the reporters want to leave. Marketplace host David Brown talks with foreign correspondent Simon Marks, who was on a hotel rooftop in Baghdad on a satellite phone. Marks says the citizens of Iraq don't have that luxury, as things are much more tense for them. Baghdad is a city whose fate hangs in the balance, and the people there understand this -- the hottest seller at outdoor markets has been oil-powered lamps. Sales of guns around the city are also on the rise, and some say they will defend themselves against any U.S.-led aggression.
Aired: March 6, 2003
Host David Brown talks with foreign correspondent Simon Marks

Letter From Iraq, #3
Reporter learns how things work in Iraqi Kurdistan when he's evicted from his hotel room: After Kurdish warlords commandeered his hotel for a conference, Borzou Daragahi began to look at Iraqi Kurdistan differently. He appreciates that the Kurds are committed to democracy and free enterprise...But as the conference closed, he wished the Iraqi Kurds would have learned more at the hands of Saddam -- that they should "never to give an inch to small-time monsters that use a nation's wealth as their personal piggy banks, and its people as pawns for their own ambitions," said Daragahi. "Iraq might've been on its way to becoming a real democracy, and I might've still had my hotel room."
Aired: March 4, 2003
Reporter: Borzou Daragahi

Letter From Iraq, #2
Reporter gets his chemical protective gear -- problem is, he doesn't know how to use the stuff: Borzou Daragahi posts this letter from Northern Iraq, where residents are making preparations for a potential war. He recently acquired a suit to protect against a chemical attack and wonders how much he should wear it, and how much good it would be to him if the worst happened. But there are ethical considerations associated with using the suit -- and he's not sure how put the darn thing on.
Aired: February 24, 2003
Reporter: Borzou Daragahi

Iraq as Oil Smuggler
Black market has been good for Baghdad’s oil:Iraq has been getting bolder about smuggling its oil to market: It has chartered six tankers for an end-run around inspections governing shipments of crude under the United Nations Oil-For-Food program. The tankers could have carried some 9 million barrels of oil on the open market. It's the first time Baghdad has used big ships this way. It's the continuation of a big business for Iraq -- and its neighbors are cashing in.
Aired: February 21, 2003
Reporter: Jeff Tyler

Ansar al Islam and Iraq
Group fighting against reviving economic life in Kurdish-run northern Iraq: Despite Colin Powell's statements connecting Islamic militant group Ansar al-Islam to Saddam Hussein, Baghdad sent the U.N. a letter denying any connection. Even after the assassination of a top official earlier this month near the city of Halabjaof, the Kurds don't necessarily blame Hussein. They say other things explain the rise of the Islamic group, which operates in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq, terrorizing people in the area. Like what? The economy.
Aired: February 21, 2003
Reporter: Borzou Daraghahi

Iraqi Business Expectations
Some Iraqis think a war could bring about a better economic climate: Decades of sanctions and war have taken their toll on Iraq's businesses. How much worse could things get if there's another war? Some businessmen in the country believe a conflict there will actually bring better times.
Aired: February 21, 2003
Reporter: Adam Davidson

Letter from Northern Iraq, #1
Ordinary people in northern Iraq are bracing for a potential war: Being a reporter in Northern Iraq is no easy task -- just ask correspondent Borzou Daragahi: There are no ATMs, finding a driver is quite difficult, and safety has become a major issue. While the region's business has flourished over the years, a U.S. war on Iraq threatens to undo everything. And, it's this anticipation of war that's changing daily life there.
Aired: February 10, 2003
Reporter: Borzou Daraghahi

Commentary - Iraq War
Commentator says war's not necessarily good for capitalism: How will a potential war with Iraq impact the U.S. economy? A little more than half a century ago, a World War brought America out of the greatest economic downturn in history. At the time, economists believed that war was good for capitalism, boosting government spending and the fueling industry. But commentator and economist Joseph Stiglitz argues the theory doesn't hold water today.
Aired: January 21, 2003
Reporter: Joseph Stiglitz

Iraq’s “Oil For Food” Program
With war and regime change coming, the successful program could come to an end: After the Gulf War, the UN allowed Iraq to sell its oil, but only to fund humanitarian needs -- and only under its strict guidance. The most ambitious UN project in its history, the "Oil For Food" program has helped, and hurt, the economy and people of northern Iraq. Now, with the current geopolitical struggles, the program's future is uncertain.
Aired: January 15, 2003
Reporter: Borzou Daragahi

Kurd Smugglers
Age-old smuggling trade thrives in land-locked terrain: Years of economic sanctions and high unemployment in Iraq have produced fertile ground for smugglers. Kurds in northern Iraq have created a lucrative business out of tapping the demand for goods. The flow of smuggled goods points to the flow of money that ultimately benefits Iraq's government. Borzou Daragahi reports.
Aired: October 22, 2002
Reporter: Borzou Daragahi

Kurdistan Boom Time
While a war looms, the Kurdish population is experiencing an unprecedented boom time: While some Americans are expressing concerns about the economic implications of a war with Iraq those concerns are echoed in Saddam Hussein's own backyard -- in northern Iraq -- where people have prospered in a time of relative peace. After the 1991 Gulf War, thousands of starving Kurdish villagers fled into the mountains to escape Saddam Hussein's wrath. But the mostly Kurdish population has since carved out a democratic, free-market zone in one of the world's roughest regions.
Aired: October 9, 2002
Reporter: Borzou Daragahi

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Afghanistan Reconstruction Lessons
A look at the efforts to rebuild Afghanistan -- and what lessons that experience may hold for a postwar Iraq: The circumstances in Iraq are distinct, yet Afghanistan does provide some lessons for the challenges to reconstruction. While a successful military campaign may only last weeks, the follow-up takes years. Over one billion dollars flowed into Afghanistan last year, but most was spent on emergency relief. Reconstruction in Afghanistan will likely take another 5 to 10 years, and it’s just now getting started -- and many of the major reconstruction projects remain in limbo. But what’s really holding up construction isn’t money -- it’s safety. The issue the U.S. will face in Iraq, like in Afghanistan, is the challenge of shifting away from a successful military strategy to a post-war campaign. And, money will play a major role.
Aired April 10, 2003
Reporter: Jeff Tyler

Rent in Kabul
Decent housing is going up faster than people's wages: Sure, you'd expect a housing crunch in big, industrialized U.S. cities, but it can happen anywhere. Kabul, Afghanistan, is in serious need of rent control. With an extreme housing shortage, rent prices are sky-high -- worse than mid-town Manhattan, in some cases -- and most residents have been priced right out of the market. In Kabul, people are coping with a rental crisis that would challenge even the toughest American urbanite.
Aired November 20, 2002
Reporter: Borzou Daragahi

Afghanistan Anniversary
A year after U.S. went battled the Taliban, the country's business climate is radically different: One year ago, American-led attacks in Afghanistan drove the Taliban from the capital city of Kabul. Afghans were freed from the Islamic fundamentalist leadership that had severely restricted life and work, and had sheltered Osama bin Laden. But the event didn't alter the fundamental challenges of daily life: Afghanistan remains a deeply impoverished country. Still, there are signs of economic rebirth sprouting from the rubble of Kabul.
Aired: November 12, 2002
Borzou Daragahi

Women In Afghanistan
For women, transition to the working world has been surprisingly quick and relatively smooth: After 5 years of Taliban control, life for women in Afghanistan is improving. Now, they can work, earn a living for themselves, take off restrictive burkhas, and form their own identities. Some women are returning to the workplace, though attitudes more ancient than the Taliban are keeping many more women at home.
Aired: June 10, 2002
Reporter: Borzou Daragahi

Doing Business In Afghanistan
Reporter travels to Afghanistan's business Mecca to see what life is like for the foreign entrepreneur: Government officials, international companies and financial institutions have said that to reconstruct Afghanistan as a viable economy and a stable society, the country must re-create basic infrastructures -- and it needs foreign investment to do so. But businesses may be reluctant because life for the foreign entrepreneur isn't easy.
Aired: May 16, 2002
Reporter: Borzou Daragahi

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Commentary - Egyptian Trade
Commentator says the Bush can't let Egypt get away with using the war as an excuse for all its troubles: Egypt is hoping the U.S. government helps the economically struggling country with some much-needed foreign aid. But commentator Bruce Stokes says that Egypt needs to get its own economic house in order first: “It would be a tragedy if the Bush administration let the Egyptians use the war as an excuse to avoid their own heavy lifting.”
Aired February 5, 2003
Reporter: Bruce Stokes

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Iranian Mass Weddings
Reporter looks at the phenomenon of Iranian mass weddings: As it becomes more expensive to tie the knot in Iran -- and as many are marrying for love, thus forgoing family support -- couples are looking to mass weddings to liven it up. The government has recently started offering free mass weddings. The worsening economy has boosted the popularity of these group nuptials.
Aired: September 23, 2002
Reporter: Borzou Daragahi

Iranian Cemeteries
Iran-Iraq war turned the funeral into one of Iran's most efficient industries: In Iran, some of the best-run businesses are the local burial grounds. They are well run, efficient, and feel more like airports for the higher realm than a solemn American graveyard. Why? Nearly a million people died in the Iran-Iraq war -- and during the 8 years of conflict, Iranian families became used to the sad routine of trailing the coffins of fallen soldiers to Tehran's central cemetery.
Aired: August 8, 2002
Reporter: Borzou Daragahi

Iran's Economy
Iran's economy may be a lot closer to "good old American capitalism" than you might think: For it's own part, Iran can't really afford to be considered by Washington as an international pariah, helping the U.S. fight al-Qaeda. But it is signaling an interest to come in from the cold and be a player in the global economy. There's a growing sense in the Iranian capital that the Islamic revolution has been costly -- too costly.
Aired: July 23, 2002
Reporter: Borzou Daragahi

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Israel - Jordan Pipeline
There is an oil pipeline that runs from the oil fields in northern Iraq to the port of Haifa in Israel. It has been shut down for decades. With the fall of Saddam's regime, Israeli officials in Tel Aviv say they want to talk to Jordan about reopening that oil connection. So far, though, Jordanian officials are cold to the idea.
Aired: April 9, 2003
Reporter: Simon Marks Middle East “Road Map”
Will two economically battered countries agree on the Palestinian “road map?” The Bush administration is trying to bring Israel and the Palestinians to the negotiating table to sign a “Road Map to Peace.” It’s essentially a divorce settlement that would split Israel and Palestinian territories into two states by 2005. Its calls for a stoppage of suicide attacks and an end to Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories. Bush is pushing hard, but bitterness runs so deep now that even a deteriorating economy may not be enough to push Israel toward the peace table.
Aired: July 21, 2002
Reporter: Jessica Smith

Offsets - Aid To Israel
Much of Israel’s aid money flows back to the U.S. by way of defense purchases: In the event of war with Iraq, neighboring states in the region will expect considerable aid from the U.S. Turkey's parliament appears to be reconsidering its rejection of a plan to allow U.S. troops to stage attacks from its territory, which could earn Turkey $30 billion. By comparison, Israel is asking for $12 billion worth of additional military aid and commercial-loan guarantees. That’s on top of the $3 billion Israel already receives annually. But critics charge that the relationship may actually be hurting the U.S. defense industry and affecting national security in unforeseen ways.
Aired: March 11, 2003
Reporter: Jeff Tyler

Israel’s New Third Party?
On the eve of Israeli elections, a political movement committed to helping secular, middle-class could become the #3 party: Israelis vote tomorrow in national elections. Polls show that the right-wing Likud party will win the most votes -- but a once obscure party, Shinui, is now poised to become Israel's third largest party, and a political force. Leading that party is Yosef "Tommy" Lapid, a politician provocateur who seeks to protect the middle-class secular lifestyle from religious Jews. The party is gaining popularity among those with a different view of what the country should be.
Aired: January 24, 2003
Reporter: Adam Davidson

Debka.com and Selling Secrets
Jerusalem Web site consistently gets scoop on the region's top stories: Hundreds of thousands of people read Debka.com every day. It's a site based in Jerusalem that claims to give the inside story about what's happening in the fight against terror. Apparently, there's value in selling secrets.
Aired: January 18, 2003
Reporter: Adam Davidson

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Refugees On The Border
Ar Ruwayshid, Jordan, is a major route for commerce and -- soon -- refugees: Iraq and Jordan are major trading partners, and the road connecting the two countries is normally filled with gasoline trucks and vehicles carrying dates, rice and carpets. But today, it’s virtually empty. Refugee camps are nearby in the last town in Jordan before the Iraqi border, but Iraq doesn’t have the economy to support them anymore. And, until relief organizations show up to get the refugees out of Jordan, they will be sitting tight, waiting. But the border will soon open for them to stream through.
Aired: March 19, 2003
Reporter: Adam Davidson

High Anxiety Hyatt
War is unpredictable...and not just on the battlefield: Jordan is America's best friend in the Arab world...and Iraq's best friend and trading partner. Some of these paradoxes played out in the lobby of the Hyatt Hotel in Jordan's capital, Amman: General Tommy Franks, commander-in-chief U.S. Army Central Command, rides an elevator surrounded by a flurry of military officers; Saddam Hussein's half-sister was in that same lift the week before; Momar Khadafi's son just checked in; and, there are so many U.S. Marines in the weight room, you can't get on a bench press. Want some interesting tea conversation? The Iraqi trade minister's in the lobby having tea -- and promoting trade with Jordan...
Aired: March 14, 2003
Reporter: Adam Davidson

What, Me Worry?
For some Americans who live and work in the Middle East, the threat of war is just no big deal: You’d think that war in the Middle East would be a worrisome and uncomfortable situation for Americans living in countries such as Jordan and Kuwait -- but, no, many are living business as usual, without fear. And, many ex-pats don’t want to leave anytime soon.
Aired: March 10, 2003
Reporter: Adam Davidson

Jordanian Tourism
Death of Jordanian tourism affecting people and businesses: As talk of a war against Iraq heats up, nobody is reading the papers more attentively than Jordanians who work in the tourism industry. Since Sept. 11, its once-thriving tourism industry has collapsed because Americans and Europeans are afraid to travel to the region. Middle East correspondent Adam Davidson reports Jordanian tourism is down 95%, businesses are suffering, and former enemies are no longer shopping together.
Aired: February 3, 2003
Reporter: Adam Davidson

Hard-to-find Drives in Jordan
Lack of access to computers is a serious problem for entrepreneurs in Jordan: While the promise of the Internet age was a “leveling of the playing field” between the developed world and the developing world, nothing seems that level in Jordan. Sure, the country has a very educated workforce, with many computer programmers and IT professionals, but many find that they can't compete with Americans or Europeans because they don't have access to the same hardware.
Aired: January 15, 2003
Reporter: Adam Davidson

Iraqi Vendors in Jordan
Some vendors speak candidly about turning a profit: In Amman, Jordan, many Iraqi refugees are finally able to make a living -- at least enough to support a family in Iraq -- something that often seems impossible now. So, how do they feel about a potential war to oust Saddam Hussein? There, plenty of Iraqi refugees are trying to make a little money for their families back home.
Aired: December 16, 2002
Reporter: Adam Davidson

Arab Boycotts
Not all Arabs believe a boycott of American products is the best thing: Throughout the Arab world, there is a grassroots effort to shun American products in protest of U.S. support of Israel, and its threatened attack on Iraq. Editorial writers, spiritual leaders, and even union officials, have called for a boycott of U.S. goods. But in Amman, Jordan, the success of any boycott hinges on conflicted feelings about the "Made in the USA" label.
Aired: December 5, 2002
Reporter: Adam Davidson

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Kuwaiti Businessmen
The war's slowing down and Kuwaiti businessmen are excited: Kuwaiti ports were once filled with goods bound for Iraq, and Kuwaiti businesses have close ties with their larger neighbor. With the new government starting to take shape in Iraq, there’s much on the minds of Kuwaiti businessmen these days. As they meet in business clubs to talk, play cards and tell jokes, they also discuss how Kuwaiti docks are filled with merchandise, just waiting for the Iraqi market to open. They know there will be much money to be made soon. And, businessmen realize that Kuwait will, most likely, blossom with Saddam’s destruction.
Aired: April 11, 2003
Reporter: Adam Davidson

Kuwait’s Promising Biz Future
Kuwaitis look toward what could follow the liberation of Iraq: a boon for business: The American military presence has already boosted business in Kuwait and buoyed the country's stock market. The liberation of Iraq could spur an even bigger boon. Many know it could be a while before Iraqis have the money to buy their products, but eventually, they will. So, war is something many Kuwaitis support. With a population of 25 million people, Iraq could soon be a vast consumer market for this region.
Aired: March 19, 2003
Reporter: Jennifer Glasse

Trying to Leave Kuwait
U.S. embassies are urging Americans to leave -- but getting out of Kuwait City is a little difficult: Embassies say there are good reasons to leave Kuwait, such as the risk of Iraq deploying biochemical weapons against Kuwait in the event of war and terrorist attacks against Americans there. The recent warning opened the floodgates: travel agencies were packed with people trying to get out and all flights, in all classes, were booked solid. Between 500 and 1,000 expatriates are expected to leave now. Some airlines are stopping flights to and from Kuwait because the situation is so uncertain.
Aired: March 18, 2003
Reporter: Jennifer Glasse

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Beiruit Rebuilds
Lebanon’s flattened capital recovering from years of civil war and invasion: With war in the Middle East more likely, people are wondering how the economy of Iraq will one day recover from decades of war and sanctions. Well, Beirut, the capital of another war-ravaged Middle Eastern country, Lebanon, is in the midst of an amazing recovery after nearly 20 years of civil war and invasion -- all with a little help from a project known as Solidere: a private company funded by the government that helped rebuild the downtown area.
Aired: February 19, 2003
Reporter: Adam Davidson

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Saudi Reserves
Does Saudi Arabia have enough production capacity to cover an Iraqi shortfall? Iraq’s oil pipelines have been untouched by the conflict, but oil exports by ship have stopped -- and that has cut global oil exports by about 2 million barrels a day. So, what’s the role of Saudi reserves in case of a shortfall in Iraqi pipelines? Severin Borenstein, director of the University of California Energy Institute, says the Saudis will try to make up for any loss that occurs if Iraqi oil fields aren’t able to pump. But is there enough production capacity there? Although Saudi Arabia has immense reserves, it has a limited ability to deliver oil, says Borenstein. And it would not, for many months, be able to ramp up production enough to replace full Iraqi capacity.
Aired: April 3, 2003
Reporter: Host Tess Vigeland talks to Severin Borenstein, director of the University of California Energy Institute

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Turkish Oil Port
Turkey's Ceyhan oil terminal will be one of the first places to feel the effects of the war with Iraq: One of the places most affected by Iraqi oil is the Turkish oil port of Ceyhan. The Mediterranean oil terminal is hoping for an infusion of cash if, and when, Iraqi oil fields start producing at full capacity -- but for the moment Ceyhan is bracing for the war that now seems imminent. And, it’s hoping for a short war, as a long war, like the Gulf War in ’91, harmed the region. Turkey’s relationship with the U.S. could make it one of the war's first economic beneficiaries.
Aired: March 10, 2003
Reporter: Stephen Beard

Turkish Economy
Haggling over letting U.S. troops establish bases within Turkey’s borders is having an effect on their economy: After the Turkish Parliament voted down a measure on March 3 to allow the U.S. to mount a northern front against Iraq from Turkish territory, Turkish share prices sharply fell. Traders in Turkey are now in waiting mode after the markets fell 11 percent in one day. The whole country is waiting to see whether parliament will change its mind. Some say the $30 billion aid package would save the Turkish economy.
Aired: March 7, 2003
Reporter: Stephen Beard

Turkish Markets Plunge
Turkish stock market drops sharply after its parliament refuses to let U.S. troops on country’s soil: The refusal puts into jeopardy $30 billion in aid and loan guarantees. Out of fear the U.S. might financially retaliate by withholding International Monetary Fund loans, Turkey’s markets tumbled. Supporters of American troops hope the market plunge might just make parliament rethink its stance and take another vote. But Turks say there’s more at stake here than just money: a principal of keeping country pride. A reversal could backfire politically for Turkish politicians -- and it’s something they’re, as of yet, unwilling to do.
Aired: March 3, 2003
Reporter: Kyle James

Concerned Textile Industry
Turkey’s price for bases too high for U.S. textile industry: The U.S. and Turkey are close to an agreement that would allow U.S. forces to use bases there to launch a ground invasion of northern Iraq. But Turkey is asking a high price in return for such permission -- a price too high for at least one industry: the textile industry. Beyond asking for a multi-billion-dollar aid package, Turkey is pressing the U.S. to open its market to cheap Turkish textiles -- raising the ire of the U.S. clothing industry, which is already reeling from losing more than 300,000 jobs since 1990. Concerned workers say the industry shouldn’t have to become a “sacrificial lamb in the war on terrorism.”
Aired: February 21, 2003
Reporter: John Dimsdale

Turkeys Diplomatic Tug Of War
Former U.S. ambassador to Istanbul says the country’s recovering from the economic effects of the Persian Gulf War: Marketplace host Cheryl Glaser talks with Morton Abramowitz, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation, about the risk a potential war with Iraq poses to Turkey’s fragile economy. Turkey is caught in the middle of a diplomatic tug of war between Secretary of State Colin Powell and France, Germany and Belgium, who claim building up defenses now could undermine efforts to avert a conflict.
Aired: February 11, 2003
Reporter: Host Cheryl Glaser talks with Morton Abramowitz

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Dubai's Da Place
United Arab Emirates might just be the place for you: If you're still looking for a job in February, you might try the United Arab Emirates. Just like the United States, the country attracts people from the around the world with the promise of a brighter economic future -- and as Anne Marie Ruff reports, many people find it there.
Aired: February 7, 2003
Reporter: Anne Marie Ruff

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War Coverage

Microlending For Palestinians
An Israeli-American sets up a company that gives micro-loans to Palestinian men targeted to be terrorists: Microcredit has been used to fight poverty in poor countries -- and the strategy could work in the economically devastated West Bank. At least, that’s what Uri Pomerantz, a 21-year-old Israeli-American, says. His company, Jozoor Microfinance, would give small loans to young Palestinian men. He hopes that with capital, they can start small businesses, employ other Palestinians, and develop the economy. The idea to help people who might otherwise turn to violence came to Uri last year, after his aunt was killed in Jerusalem by a Palestinian militant. Jozoor’s founders hope to raise $32,000 for a pilot project, and later up that to $3 million.
Aired: April 25, 2003
Reporter: Gabriel Spitzer

The Ultimate Demonstration
Wars are the ultimate tests of military strategies and product lines: For defense contractors whose job it is to design and manufacture increasingly advanced weapons of war, the war with Iraq may have been the ultimate commercial advertisement. Now, the Pentagon and foreign governments alike are mapping out new military spending based on the war. While the first Gulf War produced a windfall for the defense the industry, don’t expect a repeat this time around -- this generation of high-tech defense systems is out of reach for foreign buyers. No one weapon should usher in a flood of new spending after this war.
Aired: April 24, 2003
Reporter: Nate Dimeo

New Bandage Technology
A bandage has been put to the test that may help save lives in combat -- and on the home front: While bandages haven’t changed for decades, researchers are now using the latest scientific knowledge to make a better battle dressing. Bleeding accounts for nearly half of all fatalities on the battlefield. So, the military has been pushing scientists to find a solution. They found one in an extract of shrimp and lobster shells that helps blood to clot. Scientists say it’s a natural antiseptic and it forms a sticky adhesive when mixed with blood, so the bandage can stop bleeding and stay put for 4 days. It has been shipped to Iraq and has been said to stop hemorrhaging.
Aired: April 23, 2003
Reporter: Christian Foden-Vencil

Canadian Trade Woes
Canada’s opposition to the war with Iraq could affect the trade relations between the U.S. and its northern neighbor Bush has cancelled a trip to Canada next month, one that was seen as a chance to mend affairs strained by differences over the war in Iraq. Canada's opposition to the war has created a "stormy" relationship. In the U.S., politicians have been surprisingly blunt about the situation, angered by Canadian protestors. Relations between the U.S. and Canada have been cool since a spokeswoman for Prime Minister Jean Chretien called Bush "a moron."
Aired: April 22, 2003
Reporter: Brian Mann

Police Jobs In Iraq
U.S. police officers being hired to go to Iraq as peacekeepers: It's not just local professionals who'll be managing civil affairs in Iraq: If you have 10 years experience as a police officer in the U.S., you could qualify for a job restoring law and order in post-Saddam Iraq. Since the U.S. has no national police force, the State Department hires private companies for peacekeeping police work. But critics worry that companies may settle for poorly qualified employees, and that they might not have the ability to police their own private police forces.
Aired: April 18, 2003
Reporter: Jeff Tyler

War Coverage
Media critic says war is bringing out some of the best and worst news coverage: This war has given the public 24-hour access to events in Iraq -- and it has given TV reporters new opportunities. Problem is, media critic Jon Katz says, it’s not all good coverage. Embedded reporters risking their lives is a return to the highest art of journalism, but the dark side of this is that most Americans get their news from TV -- and TV is image-driven. “What could be more compelling -- and more distorting, really -- than seeing live combat?” asks Katz. These images are overwhelming. Journalism works best when there’s some delay, says Katz, and that’s why there’s tremendous danger when you’re pumping live information that’s unfiltered, unchecked and without perspective. The regular evening news adds more context because they’re summing up for you.
Aired: April 17, 2003
Reporter: Morning Report host Tess Vigeland interviews Jon Katz

High Schools and Recruitment
High school grads have a lot to think about, especially if they’re considering a career in the military: High school basketball players excel at teamwork -- which is why U.S. military recruiters have been stopping by schools to talk up the benefits of enlisting. Benefits include $20,000 for college, health coverage and possibly even a laptop computer -- a tempting offer for sons of laborers who are full of ambition, but lacking the financial resources for college. Still, for some, the possibility of going to war is enough to turn a tempting offer into an offer worth passing up. Military officials say there’s hasn’t been a spike in enlistment since the war with Iraq began.
Aired: April 17, 2003
Reporter: Philip Martin

Commentary - War Dividend
Commentator argues U.S. has received a good return on its money for war with Iraq: The final price tag on the war with Iraq will certainly be in the tens of billions of dollars. Is the investment worth it? Commentator Jonah Goldberg argues it is. He says the action the U.S. took against Saddam's regime is a good investment because "the price of this war may have saved us the cost of some others." He says the war has reduced the threat of terrorism by alleviating the causes of terrorism. “Violence certainly doesn’t always solve everything,” says Goldberg. “The real lesson is if you’re going to use money as a rationale for inaction, think again. Sometimes, taking real action is the better investment.”
Aired: April 17, 2003
Commentator: Jonah Goldberg
  What are your thoughts on the Jonah Goldberg "war dividend" commentary? Let's hear your opinion

Robots and War
Robots could be the next generation of U.S. military equipment: Scientists at the Robotic Institute at Carnegie Mellon University have been working on robots that could lead troops into combat. The work is part of the Department of Defense’s $428 million future combat systems program, and the focus is on unmanned reconnaissance. One such robot is being developed for the Marines. The lightweight, low-cost, remote-controlled robot is a good second set of eyes that could be very useful in an urban setting. But scientists don’t see a day when battalions of robots will wage war -- the military still wants a person in the loop when it’s time to use a weapon.
Aired: April 15, 2003
Reporter: Mark Nootbaar

Chaos, What Chaos?
Pentagon, White House downplay reports of chaos: With the collapse of authority in Iraq, images of citizens welcoming new freedoms have turned into scenes of violence and looting. But the people now responsible for order in Iraq -- the Pentagon and White House -- have downplayed reports of chaos. At the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said the media have been exaggerating the plight of Iraqis. Even the man who will head up the military civil administration in Iraq, Lieutenant General Jay Garner, said security in Baghdad is getting better and that he plans to be there soon to oversee U.S. humanitarian efforts.
Aired: April 11, 2003
Reporter: John Dimsdale

Celebrity Blacklist
Celebs who are vocal about antiwar stance could be blacklisted for political beliefs, even after war ends: Clearly, when stars voice controversial political opinions, they risk becoming targets -- and they could even risk their careers. Some, like Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon, aren’t worried about being targeted -- they’re worried about what they’re hearing from others in the entertainment community. It’s the people who run the major studios and networks who have a say over where the stars’ careers are headed -- because they’re selling a “product,” a product they’d like to keep selling. In the meantime, managers are telling their clients to just “shut up.”
Aired: April 10, 2003
Reporter: Kim Masters

The UN’s Role
UN might be able to get dollars for Iraq’s reconstruction more easily than U.S.: While Bush and Blair may be restricting the role of the UN in post-war Iraq to just the humanitarian effort, it may wield more influence than one would think, as billions of dollars will be needed for Iraq's reconstruction and political reorganization. Some say European donors, most likely, aren’t going to hand over money to a coalition, U.S.-installed occupation. Money for reconstruction funds is probably going to have to go through some kind of international umbrella -- like the UN. Much of the money for humanitarian aid could come from the UN’s “oil for food” program, which is authorized only until June 1.
Aired: April 10, 2003
Reporter: Judy Martin

USAID
A look at U.S. donor agency USAID and their concerns over reconstruction contracts in Iraq: The battle is heating up over how the government is awarding billions of dollars in contracts to rebuild Iraq’s infrastructure. So far, the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, has awarded just two of six reconstruction contracts, but the process has been largely secret with the bids limited to a handful of American companies. House and Senate Democrats have called for an investigation. While USAID can legally sidestep open competition rules during an emergency, a new measure in the Senate would force the agency to publicly justify its reasons for doing so. USAID says it expedited the process to get assistance to the Iraqi people faster.
Aired: April 10, 2003
Reporter: Amy Scott

Military Fill-ins
What have businesses have been doing in the event their reservist workers are overseas for the long haul? Some companies are feeling the pinch working without their reservist employees as the war continues. The government has activated some 210,000 reservists, and to fill the vacancies this creates, some companies are hiring unemployed workers for the length of the conflict. But some say hiring these workers indefinitely can cause more problems than it solves because when fill-in employees are let go, there will be additional costs for severance pay, unemployment and extended health plans. But businesses have fewer obligations as long as they hire employees on a temporary basis. The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering loans to companies with essential employees who are called up to serve.
Aired: April 10, 2003
Reporter: Carol Gray

Parents At War
Counselors at public school on Marine base help kids of parents in active duty: Santa Margarita Elementary School is not your regular school: it’s on the Camp Pendleton Marine base and most of its students have parents away at war. But counselors and educators there weren’t about to let the highly rated southern California school slip into mediocrity because of the war. So, Marine psychologists come to the school every week to help kids who are having trouble coping. Teachers are not going easy on the students because the kids have enough change and turmoil at home now. Kids cling to the normal sources of stability: routine, homework, high academic standards. Teachers tell the students that their parents have a job to do in Iraq -- and they have a job too: to keep on learning. Still it’s not easy for the students and teachers.
Aired: April 9, 2003
Reporter: Sarah Gardner

Wartime Day Trading
Now, day traders react to the minute-by-minute nuances of the conflict: If you thought day trading was tough during the heyday of the dot-com boom, try doing it during a war with 24-hour news coverage. Sure, day traders make their living off volatility, but this is ridiculous. Headlines about the war make the markets surge and dive irregularly. The traders themselves on the market floor are watching CNN and CNBC, watching the war’s events unfold, trading on what they’re hearing. The profile of this anonymous day trader shows he is trying to survive in a market driven by headlines. And, people who survive the tough times are going to be the first ones to benefit the next time around, when the market has an upswing. “The stock market is the ultimate example of survival of the fittest,” says this day trader.
Aired: April 9, 2003
Reporter: Sam Eaton

Mental Health Of Soldiers
Military psychiatrists in the field are hard at work keeping soldier’s minds on the battles ahead: There has never been an army as technologically well-equipped as the U.S. and UK forces deployed in the Persian Gulf. But that doesn't offset the reality of combat and the stress it inflicts on servicemen. So, the Pentagon is trying to minimize the psychological damage to its forces. Building mental resilience -- as well as muscles and endurance -- is required before any deployment, say military psychiatrists. And now, the military has invested more resources into developing stress control teams in active duty. Part of the stress control teams’ job is to help soldiers reintegrate peacefully into life back home.
Aired: April 8, 2003
Reporter: Stephen Henn

Seized Cash
Bush, Blair to figure out what to do with billions in Iraqi assets seized in U.S. and frozen abroad: Before bombs started falling on Baghdad, Bush seized more than $1.7 billion in Iraqi assets. Now, deciding how to spend that money will be the first important step toward peace. The money seized in the U.S. is just a small slice of all Iraqi assets which have been frozen abroad -- and other countries aren’t about to hand over money which was frozen years ago at the request of the UN. Until the UN makes a decision here, the money will be stuck in foreign accounts, and the U.S. and UK will have to find another way to pay for pressing needs in Iraq. Treasury Department officials say they’ve made no specific plans about how to spend the seized money.
Aired: April 7, 2003
Reporter: Stephen Henn

War/Market Correlation
The U.S. stock market seems to follow many of the ups and downs in the war with Iraq: This is the first war in human history where you can watch the live coverage on TV, and every station has, in the corner, an indication of how the stock market is doing. It's amazing how much of the coverage revolves around the stock market, says Newsweek’s Wall Street editor Allan Sloan, and how much of the markets' day-to-day activities are based on the perception of how the war is going. The war is significant in how it affects many aspects of the world, but for the stock market it's a passing event. If you trade according to how close we are to Baghdad, says Sloan, you're going to lose your money.
Aired: April 7, 2003
Reporter: Morning Report host Kai Ryssdal talks to Newsweek's Allan Sloan

Twentynine Palms Families
How are military families and local businesses dealing with the absent servicemembers? Twentynine Palms, Calif., is home to the largest Marine Corps base in the U.S., and Marines and their families account for 70 percent of the population. When a war comes, local businesses brace for hard times. During the Persian Gulf War, dozens closed down after military spouses went home to family. Now, the Marines want the spouses to stick out the war here, so they offer cooking classes and childcare. Near the Marine base, local businesses are so thrilled that military wives aren’t deserting, they have a program with the base called “Operation Enduring Families,” offering Marine spouses deals, from free auto inspections to kids-eat-free nights.
Aired: April 4, 2003
Reporter: Sarah Gardner

The Button Business
Folks who make buttons with political messages are experiencing a sudden boom in business: No street demonstrator’s gear is complete without a political button of some sort. As Americans for and against the war seek to display evidence of their convictions, buttonmakers are rising to the meet the demand. Peace-related buttonmakers are seeing sales quadruple -- and they’re also fielding hate mail and threatening phone calls accusing them of making money off the war. “Support our troops” buttons are also selling like hotcakes. Neither end of the buttonmaking spectrum sees a problem with bringing in extra funds now. But nobody knows how long this boom will last -- and that uncertainty creates a problem for buttonmakers with extra product.
Aired: April 4, 2003
Reporter: Debra Schifrin

War & Music
New pro-war-themed songs race up charts, and anti-war songs go online: Today’s recording artists aren’t less political than their ‘60s counterparts, but you may have to search a little more to find them -- to find artists with something controversial to say, you have to look on the Internet. Bands such as Athens, Ga., superstars REM have posted protest songs online as free downloads. That way, they can get their message across instantly without having to commercially release a single. But a pro-war-related song like Clint Black’s “I Raq and I Roll” has been racing up the charts and getting airplay. Some say that if the artist isn’t appealing to the sensibilities of most Americans, then they’re going to tune them out -- and radio stations don’t want that.
Aired: April 2, 2003
Reporter: Sam Eaton

Getting New Recruits
New recruits see military as more than a place to "be all you can be:" With the war in full swing, teens are lining up to enlist in the military. Many are attracted by the GI bill, which offers money for college, while others are interested in the years of job training that’s offered. Some say the Army looks more attractive now that the economy is in bad shape. Some even see the Army as a ticket to citizenship. Still, recruiters say if there’s one thing they are not -- it’s salesmen.
Aired: April 2, 2003
Reporter: Jeff Tyler

New Military Ads
U.S. military’s new recruitment ads are a persuasive pitch for the hearts and minds of America's youth during wartime: Since we’re in the middle of a war, the Army decided to replace its usual ads that focus on ways to serve in active duty with ones that have a new wartime message. The ads are slick productions by top-tier ad agencies, featuring stirring, lofty music without narration. Some say the ads not only glamorize military life, but use powerful metaphors sure to appeal to youth. The ads serve a dual purpose: Not only do they appeal to recruits, but they are aimed at reassuring the civilian population that the U.S. military has the highest quality personnel.
Aired: April 2, 2003
Reporter: Debra Monroe

Office War Politics
It's not always easy keeping the peace in the workplace: Diversity in the workplace often leads to a diversity of opinion. And in this time of war, tempers can flare over philosophical differences. But many employees are keeping their feelings about this war to themselves -- at least at the office. While it’s impossible to avoid talking about the war when office TVs are tuned to CNN, the trick is to avoid arguments that are so heated, they are destructive. Now, managers are counting on their employees to exercise their common sense. But they say that work is hard enough now without trying to referee your own war in the office.
Aired: April 1, 2003
Reporter: Stephen Henn

Small Defense Companies
Smaller defense companies stand to gain an enormous windfall from an uptick in government contracts: Most government contracts require big defense companies to farm out some of the work to smaller firms. These smaller firms say that while civilian orders have dropped off since 9/11, military customers have helped pick up the slack. Some say the “small players” have become very important because they’re often the innovators -- they can do it cheaper because they have less overhead, they’re smaller, and they don’t have to pay for advertising and marketing.
Aired: April 1, 2003
Reporter: Cheryl Glaser

War’s Economic Impact
Host Kai Ryssdal talks to James K. Glassman about whether war is good for the economy -- and if it’s true with this war: So, is war good for the economy? James K. Glassman of the American Enterprise Institute says, “No.” Why? Well, missiles are made at great cost -- and then, they explode -- while building houses or making computers have more value. However, wars can help promote prosperity in troubled regions by resolving periods of uncertainty, says Glassman. And, when the uncertainty caused by 9/11 is relieved, the economy will turn around and the markets will rise. The major part of this uncertainty is being relieved now.
Aired: March 31, 2003
Reporter: Host Kai Ryssdal talks to James K. Glassman

Boycotting American Brands
America's best-known brands could be affected by European consumer backlash against U.S. due to war: The U.S. could suffer permanent commercial damage because of the war. Dozens of restaurateurs in Germany are now refusing to serve some American products to protest the war. Some see it as a way to hit the American pocketbook, adding an economic dimension to the issue. The boycott continues in France as well. And, young French consumers are turning their backs on anything “Made in the U.S.A.” U.S. foreign policy over the last 2 years has helped changed their perception. The long-term strength of U.S. brands is at risk -- and the damage to the U.S. economy could be far greater than the cost of the war.
Aired: March 31, 2003
Reporter: Stephen Beard

Survivor: Iraq
Peter Arnett and Geraldo Rivera voted off "the island: NBC, MSNBC and National Geographic terminated their relationship with Peter Arnett after the veteran journalist appeared on state-run Iraqi TV saying the U.S.-led coalition’s initial war plan had failed. And, CNN broke the news that Geraldo Rivera of FOX was asked to leave Iraq; a Pentagon official told Reuters Rivera compromised the security of a U.S. military operation. But it didn't end there: Rivera and Arnett were on TV shows talking about the incidents. Some say that without dramatic war news to report, the media are telling stories about themselves -- and the result is the disgracing of all journalism.
Aired: March 31, 2003
Reporter: Bob Moon

Fine-tuning America’s Image
Government will start TV network and teen magazine to change American image in Arab world: Even as the American assault on Iraq continues, the federal government is launching new attacks in media to try to improve America’s image in the Arab world. The government is planning the Middle East Television Network to provide news and entertainment in the region, and the State Department is planning to reach young adults in the Middle East with an Arab-language magazine celebrating the American lifestyle, called “Hi.” The idea is to promote understanding. But some say people will discount them as American propaganda -- and, that the problem is not pop culture, but U.S. policy. But those involved say a staff of Arabs and Arab-Americans will give the network and magazine an authentic voice.
Aired: March 31, 2003
Reporter: Kim Masters

"Stay-At-Home" Syndrome
The syndrome is not as pervasive as you might think: During the first few days of the war, businesses struggled as Americans stayed home to watch the coverage on TV. Are Americans still suffering from "Stay-At-Home Syndrome?" Well, Wal-Mart has blamed the "CNN Effect" for slightly weaker sales since the war began, but effects on worker productivity have been minimal. Some say that the saturation coverage is making people “OD” on front-line reports -- and that they’re haven’t been enough compelling images to keep people’s attention, like in the first Gulf War. War coverage was beaten in the ratings last week by a "Friends" episode.
Aired: March 28, 2003
Reporter: Bob Moon

Consumer Spending In Wartime
Unlike WWII, consumers might choose to stay at home instead of hitting the stores: History offers interesting pointers on how the current conflict might affect the willingness of Americans to loosen -- or tighten -- their purse strings. During World War II, consumers kept spending throughout the war, with most products literally flying off the shelves. But many analysts are worried that, this time around, consumers might just stay at home instead.
Aired: March 28, 2003
Reporter: Melinda Penkava

Branding America
America’s image problem is nothing a little brand tweaking can’t fix: Jack Trout, co-author of the book that became the bible of the marketing industry, worked last year for the Department of State developing a training program for diplomatic officers to help them better sell America to an increasingly hostile world. Looking at the war now, Trout says he can point out a list of marketing blunders that includes failing to reposition Hussein as dangerous, instead of simply just evil. But all is not doom and gloom, says Trout: The U.S. still has fans and a residue of goodwill left in the bank.
Aired: March 28, 2003
Reporter: Debra Monroe

New Barriers To Business
International dissatisfaction with U.S. military action is creating unexpected barriers to the flow of global business: For some corporations, war has become a burden on the bottom line. Many have ordered employees to cut back, or even eliminate, business travel during the war. And, businesspeople who are traveling have encountered a different sort of obstacle: problems with business visas. Multi-national companies have been trying to cope with the new political divisions created by the war in Iraq. Some say the trick is to market your product so it transcends place.
Aired: March 27, 2003
Reporter: John Dimsdale

French Boycott
Some American consumers are saying “non” to French goods: France's refusal to back Bush in a military strike against Saddam may make life more difficult for French companies to do business with the U.S. French companies, regardless of their politics, are losing customers, orders are drying up, and wine sales are down. But some say the “French boycott” could hurt the American economy as well: Trade between France and the U.S. is worth $30 billion a year, and many French firms are linked so closely to American companies that it’s hard to tell the difference.
Aired: March 27, 2003
Reporter: John Laurenson

War Stimulates Economy
Increased Defense spending has added to economic growth: The cost of the war is leading to more borrowing by the U.S. government, causing deeper deficits -- but is it also helping the economy? Well, the tremendous increases in defense spending have added fairly dramatically to economic growth. One area in particular that has experienced a jump is manufacturing. While plants are now focused on defense work, some say it’s not enough to pull the manufacturing industry out of the doldrums. Many companies are doing so poorly that the increased spending has hardly registered.
Aired: March 27, 2003
Reporter: Cynthia Ingle

Implications Of Longer War
A longer conflict has major economic implications, both on the battlefield and at home: With the war continuing, signs point to longer -- rather than shorter -- scenarios. While people have stuck close to their radios and TVs, and not to the local shopping mall, consumer confidence was actually sluggish even before bombs started falling. Should the war last long, consumers will most likely adjust and shop like before. But some have projected that if the war lasts at least 6 months that there might be a return to recession, higher oil prices, higher interest rates, more business investment uncertainty, and a decline in consumer confidence -- and, the U.S. wouldn’t be the only country to suffer.
Aired: March 27, 2003
Reporter: Jeff Tyler

Budget Crunch
Senate approves blueprint for next years budget -- with a surprise slashed tax cut: It didn’t take long for bad news from the battlefront to have a big impact on Bush’s domestic agenda. Less than one week into the war, the centerpiece of Bush’s plan for economic recovery -- the $724 trillion tax cut -- is in tatters. Some were shocked that a Congress controlled by the party of the president voted against him in a time of war, and against a larger tax cut. There has been a lot of unease in Congress about the war, which has been exacerbated by worry over the cost of war, such as Bush $75 billion war funding request -- which will probably be the first of many such requests.
Aired: March 27, 2003
Reporter: Stephen Henn

Commentary - Conscience In Media
Commentator argues a sense of honesty has been missing from the barrage of war reports: The media coverage for the war in Iraq has been nothing short of epic. But as commentator Norman Solomon says, “With American tax dollars financing the war on Iraq, the urgent need for us to get in touch with our consciences has never been more acute.” Of course, conscience isn’t always newsworthy. “Media messages do not define the limits and possibilities of conscience,” says Solomon. “We do.”
Aired: March 26, 2003
Commentator: Norman Solomon

Media Roundup
Host David Brancaccio talks with Marty Kaplan about the impact of news coverage on the current conflict in the Middle East: With the avalanche of unanswerable questions surrounding this war, one question at the intersection of the military campaign, commerce and the media has been answered: Can news organizations run advertisements interspersed with coverage from Iraq without turning off viewers, listeners and readers? Yes. But how much coverage of the war can we take? Business of media analyst Martin Kaplan, associate dean of the Annenberg School for Communication at USC, tells us.
Aired: March 26, 2003
Reporter: David Brancaccio talks with media analyst Marty Kaplan

Laid-Off Airline Workers
Highly specialized airline workers don’t have jobs waiting for them after getting pink-slipped: Major airlines have been hit by bad economic conditions since 9/11 -- and now, with the start of war, the already soft industry announces further reductions as businesses continue to cut back on travel. So, what are workers like pilots and flight attendants to do now? Many of the out-of-work have to switch to other careers, other industries. But for those who want to stay the course, job prospects are weak. Many have to sell homes and cars to survive the hard times.
Aired: March 26, 2003
Reporter: Hillary Wicai

Commentary - Investment Uncertainty
Robert Reich argues that investors wagering on the war are playing a “fools game:" Weeks ago, uncertainty over a war in Iraq made stocks close near their lowest level in 4 years. Last week, with the start of the invasion of Iraq, the Dow scored its best performance in 20 years. Right now, as commentator Robert Reich says, Wall Street seems as connected to Iraq as is the White House war room. But he has a warning: “Unless you’re trading on insider information coming from the Joint Chiefs of Staff -- and if you are, you deserve to go to jail -- you’re not going make money this way because you can’t out-guess what everyone else knows about this war.” Why? We won’t know the real consequences of this war for years.
Aired: March 26, 2003
Commentator: Robert Reich

Humanitarian Aid Fund Raising
Private aid agencies are preparing to raise money once donors shift attention from war: While nearly $7.8 billion of the president’s proposed war budget is earmarked for humanitarian relief in post-war Iraq, private aid agencies are looking to raise funds. But, right now, Americans are too captivated by war events to consider donating to post-war humanitarian efforts. Some relief organizations say their fundraising task will be difficult in Iraq, given the unpopularity of the U.S. military action -- so, donor appeals will have to be innovative. Humanitarian needs will be acute because Iraqis are dependent on the “oil for food” program. Private relief agencies will fill in when government programs are disrupted.
Aired: March 25, 2003
Reporter: John Dimsdale

Clear Channel & Pro-War Protests
Is media giant Clear Channel hoping for a reward after organizing pro-war protests? : In many cases, the pro-war rallies staged across the country to show support for American troops were organized by radio stations --- mostly ones owned by Clear Channel. Since the company has clear ties to Bush, many media types are wondering if Clear Channel has hopes for a reward. Some of the individual stations said Clear Channel didn’t do anything to organize rallies -- because the company isn’t that centralized. But observers say this isn’t true and, from a business standpoint, wouldn’t make sense. Since only a fraction of the Clear Channel stations participated in rallies, some say that’s a far cry from a corporate conspiracy to back Bush.
Aired: March 25, 2003
Reporter: Kim Masters

NYSE & Al-Jazeera
Two Al Jazeera reporters have their NYSE press credentials revoked…was it for “security reasons?”: When the exchange decided to limit the number of reporters on the trading floor as a security precaution, Arab-language news network Al Jazeera was the only network to lose its spot. The stock exchange cited “security reasons” for the decision -- but Al Jazeera says it’s being singled out for its coverage of the war in Iraq. Donald Rumsfeld called their recent footage of dead and captured American soldiers a violation of the Geneva Convention, which protects prisoners of war from “public curiosity.” A spokesman at the NYSE called its decision an “editorial decision.”
Aired: March 25, 2003
Reporter: Amy Scott

Civilian Military Supplies?
It may take more than money to deliver the latest anti-terror equipment to the public agencies that need it:Federal, state and local agencies, scrambling to ramp up domestic security as the war with Iraq heightens fears of terrorism, have spawned a government buying spree. But public companies may not see any of that technology. Why? When defense contractors sell equipment to the military, they’re legally protected under the “Government Contractor Defense” -- the domestic market has no such protections if the products don’t work. Even a single failure in a device could result in legal exposure that could financially ruin a corporation. If this remains unresolved, public agencies won’t have access to the best anti-terror equipment.
Aired: March 25, 2003
Reporter: Sam Eaton

Travel Industry Woes
With the war, the battered travel industry is down in the dumps again: Even before last Wednesday night, consumers have been rethinking travel plans, but with the outbreak of war, the industry is being hit especially hard. Last weekend, 30% of the hotel rooms in Las Vegas had been cancelled for this week. Growth for the industry normally is between 3% and 4% per year -- this year, three-quarters of a percent is being predicted. Experts are saying that even without the airline struggles, tourism would be in trouble, as only 25% of all travelers go by air; the rest go by car.
Aired: March 25, 2003
Reporter: Tess Vigeland

Multi-billion-dollar Package
Bush’s proposed emergency funds to pay for war, aid for allies -- but, likely, just a down payment: The White House is asking Congress for about $75 billion in emergency funds. Some of that money would go toward financial aid for allies and increased security measures at home -- though the bulk of it would be earmarked for the Pentagon. Many believe that this will not be the first request from Bush, as additional costs for peace keeping and reconstruction, spread out over coming years, are expected to necessitate future requests.
Aired: March 24, 2003
Reporter: Jeff Tyler

Scarce Satellite Space
A shortage of satellite space is affecting U.S military’s ability to conduct the war: On top of the network TV broadcasters, print and radio reporters, big media companies are now broadcasting live feeds over the Internet -- and all that requires lots of satellite space. The Department of Defense’s need for satellite capability has also dramatically increased. While the Pentagon has its own satellites, it needs to buy space on commercial ones because new technology uses so much bandwidth. So, the military and media outlets are vying to get that excess commercial capacity. Some say it’s a fortuitous shot in the arm for the troubled telecom industry.
Aired: March 21, 2003
Reporter: Jeff Tyler

Pulling Ads & Underwriters
Advertisers pull business from TV and print out of sensitivity to where marketing pitches appear: As regular TV programming has been pre-empted due to wall-to-wall war coverage, some advertisers have become focused on not appearing to be profiteering by having their ads run as usual. While Proctor & Gamble, McDonalds, Toyota and Pepsi have pulled ads, some companies have not. Some say a properly placed ad might get through more effectively now, with all attention focused on war news -- but that can be risky.
Aired: March 21, 2003
Reporter: Bob Moon

Stanford Costs Study
Stanford study says war may have already drained $1 trillion out of global economy -- before the military costs are factored in: When the thinkers behind this war estimate its cost, the figure used most often is $100 billion. Problem is, says a new study from Stanford, that amount doesn’t factor in the effects the war is going to have on the economy, oil prices and the stock market. The study found that, by the middle of this month, the markets had already absorbed 95 percent of the war’s effect in the form of nearly $1 trillion in losses on the Standard & Poor’s index. The Stanford study also offers another broad new perspective: a global analysis of the cost of war.
Aired: March 21, 2003
Reporter: Rachael Dornhelm

Terrorist Finance Arrests
Federal agents raid U.S.-based businesses suspected of raising money to help terrorists: Homes and businesses in California, New York, New Jersey and Minnesota have been raided, and nine people have been arrested for immigration fraud. The raids, conducted by the FBI, Secret Service and Immigration Enforcement agencies, have seized $11 million possibly headed for countries with prominent terrorist groups, such as Lebanon, Pakistan and Yemen. It’s unknown whether the money was specifically being sent to terrorists.
Aired: March 21, 2003
Reporter: John Dimsdale

War & TV
Will the Academy Awards and the NCAA tournament get knocked off the air now?: When war makes TV networks switch to an all-news format, $30 million a day go down the tube. CBS paid $565 million to broadcast the NCAA tournament, and ESPN could step in to help pre-empted games -- but CBS will still lose money reimbursing advertisers due to a smaller viewing audience. ABC has an even bigger problem with the Oscars: big names are pulling out and millions in ad money are at stake. Will the show go on? Stay tuned…
Aired: March 20, 2003
Commentator: Kim Masters

Network Winners & Losers
A look at the battle between the big TV networks for top-notch coverage of military operations in Iraq: The war is an opportunity for networks to gain a larger share of the viewing audience. Competition is fierce. Last night, CBS came out on top, gaining knowledge of troop movements long before ABC and NBC. It’s said that withholding information is just part of the game -- something that gives the government and military some amazing leverage. And, some say that certain networks can be kept in the dark about military actions, so they don’t get the coverage they’d like. The White House Press Office says it doesn’t play favorites.
Aired: March 20, 2003
Reporter: Stephen Henn

San Francisco Protests
Anti-war groups stage protests, block streets and snarl traffic: With the onset of military action against Iraq, San Francisco’s financial district has been awash in protests. Many of the companies there make money, in one way or another, in the Middle East. At least, symbolically, this is the area that’s said to be profiting from this war. The protestors want to make the average person “wake up” and realize their personal involvement in the war. Police have stepped in to break up unruly protests.
Aired: March 20, 2003
Reporter: Debra Schifrin

Stay-At-Home Effect
NYC businesses could start feeling the fallout from people staying home -- and not spending money: News out Iraq has made many people anxious -- anxious enough to not leave the house. The worry is that the temptation to seek comfort at home -- or to stay huddled around the TV set or online browsing war news on the Web -- could harm everything from job productivity to car sales to box office receipts. Nowhere might that be felt more keenly than in New York City, where Broadway attendance has already been reeling from a musicians’ strike earlier this month.
Aired: March 20, 2003
Reporter: Bob Moon

Finding Hussein’s Assets
Treasury to use own weapon against Iraq: freezing Saddam’s financial assets in U.S.-controlled banks: While it’s not likely the Iraqi president is storing his cash in American banks, the U.S.’s post-9/11 efforts to freeze terror money have built international cooperation. Governments that have traditionally been reluctant to open accounts for investigation have been more forthcoming recently -- and they’re not likely to defend Saddam. So, it may be easier to find out where he’s keeping his cash.
Aired: March 20, 2003
Reporter: Amy Scott

Pre-War Coverage

Switching To Red Alert
What going to Red Alert would mean for the country, the economy and our day-to-day lives: So, when would the U.S. go to a Red Alert status? When the government believes a terrorist attack is actually underway. With a Red Alert, controls on goods headed in and out of the country would be tightened. And, this comes at a price: for manufacturers, telecom companies and utilities, the price of increasing security dramatically can be enormous -- a cost some industries are unwilling to pay.
Aired: March 19, 2003
Reporter: Stephen Henn

Power of Insurance
Insurance most likely not the real problem behind pulling out UN helicopters: We all know the power insurance companies have over our finances and our health care -- but power over international diplomacy? Initially, the head of the United Nations inspection team said most of the U.N. helicopters were being pulled out of Iraq because "the helicopter company's insurance decided to withdraw coverage...if they remained." So, can a contractor’s canceled insurance policy hold up diplomacy? Some say that the cost of insuring a few helicopters pales in comparison to what hangs in the balance. Political considerations are more likely to be the problem.
Aired: March 17, 2003
Reporter: Bob Moon

Commentary - Industry Of Fear
Commentator identifies what he calls the latest budding American market: the industry of fear: As commentator and civil rights activist Jesse Jackson says, “Like last decade’s prison-industrial complex, we’re now watching another new industry spring up: the industry of fear.” And, it’s the constant talk of war and varying code alerts that keep it growing, leading to gas prices going up, airlines folding and state deficits getting larger. Jackson says it’s the U.S. public that will have to bear the cost of this industry. “When nations move toward empire,” states Jackson, “democracy pays the price.”
Aired: March 13, 2003
Commentator: Jesse Jackson

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War Coverage

Arab Media
Arab news networks have a better track record for accuracy in war reporting than their U.S. counterparts: There are a number of 24-hour Arabic language satellite news channels, and they reach a large percentage of the 300 million Arabic speakers in the Middle East and North Africa. And, they say, they report on the war more fairly and objectively than U.S. news channels. How? Well, they’ve got more local correspondents and are able to observe the war from a vantage point that most U.S. journalists don’t have. The biggest difference is that the Arab reporters have more access to Iraqis right now.
Aired: March 28, 2003
Reporter: Adam Davidson

Muslim Trade
As U.S. shifts away from trade ties with Muslim countries, will current foreign policy affect international commerce for good?: For the most part, globalization has left out the Muslim world -- and in the next few years, it will only get worse. Some say the Middle East’s own post-colonial policies have kept out foreign involvement. The area also has high trade barriers. But if Saddam Hussein is defeated, the post-war reconstruction will provide an opportunity to rethink economic policy in the whole region. Iraq is already poised to become a vital economic center. And, Arab countries plan to launch their own Arab Free Trade Zone by 2007.
Aired: March 24, 2003
Reporter: Amy Scott

Scarce Terrorism Insurance
International companies are trying to adjust to the new risk factor: Now that bombs are actually falling on Iraqi targets, insurers of companies with large operations abroad are pulling the plug on many activities they would normally underwrite. Why? Most insurers do not cover losses caused by war, meaning that unless they have special coverage, companies operating in or around the war zone could have their policies cancelled. If companies don’t have insurance currently and they want war risk coverage, it’s going to be difficult to find -- unless they want to shell out a pretty penny to get it.
Aired: March 20, 2003
Reporter: Jeff Tyler

Pre-War Coverage

Commentary - Cost Of War
Commentator says the cost of war can't be expressed in monetary terms: While the war could add another $100 billion to the already swollen budget deficit -- if the war is short -- commentator and economist James K. Galbraith argues it's not that simple because, “The true costs of war are inestimable.” Galbraith says raw economic calculations don’t include such immeasurable quantities as human costs, reconstruction costs, diplomatic costs and apocalyptic costs, or the risk of a catastrophic misstep in our response.in coverage. Democrat lawmakers proposed a drug benefit for Medicare with a limit of $2,000 on out-of-pocket drug costs.
Aired: March 5, 2003
Commentator: James K. Galbraith

EU “Hard Sell"
Transatlantic disputes over Iraq expose differences in the ways both sides deal with rogue nations: Members of the European Parliament are delivering what they call a “last-ditch message of peace” to the American people: an effort to avoid war in Iraq. Their view is not that Iraq’s not a risk, but the way to deal with that risk is by embracing them, trading with them, even having diplomatic relations with them. The U.S. view tends to be more one of isolation and cauterizing them. The delegation's mission exemplifies the growing rift between Europe and the U.S. caused by differences over how to deal with Iraq.
Aired: March 3, 2003
Reporter: John Dimsdale

Commentary - War & Your Money
Commentator soothes investing jitters and gives advice for playing markets in a wartime economy: If you’re someone who doesn’t make your investment decisions based on what’s in the news, editor Knight Kiplinger has some words for you: “Just sit tight. If the war goes well, the market will rise. Besides, where are you going to turn for better future returns?” If you have some spare cash, he says, put it back into the market because corporate profits are beginning to firm up, and stock prices will follow. If you felt compelled to get your money out of the markets when Bush said “Iraq,” you were probably in the wrong investments to begin with.
Aired: February 27, 2003
Commentator: Knight Kiplinger

Hussein's Magazine Stake
French media giant accused of having Saddam Hussein as one of biggest shareholders: The U.S. arm of Hachette Filipacchi publishes such magazines as Elle and Car & Driver. Today, it was reported that an Iraqi-owned company traced back to Saddam Hussein now owns a $90 million stake in the parent, Lagardere. Executives had vowed to buy the shares back, and now the company is scrambling to explain why it hasn’t happened more than a decade after the association with Hussein was revealed. The publisher’s U.S. lawyer says there’s nothing Hachette can do about the lingering stake in the company right now.
Aired: February 27, 2003
Reporter: Bob Moon

Gulf War Profits Overrated?
We do a cost-benefit analysis of last Gulf War -- the potential benefits may have been highly overrated: Gulf War wasn’t a win-win situation: the whole region suffered economically. Kuwait lost the equivalent of 2 years of oil revenue production as a result of the war. And, foreign companies haven’t really gotten direct access to Kuwait crude as many speculated after the war. There are a few unintended consequences that cannot be accounted for. Twelve years after the Gulf War, no one agrees how much it really cost.
Aired: February 27, 2003
Reporter: Julie Small

Commentary - Trans-Atlantic Tensions
Commentator says Euro-U.S. split over Iraq is serious: Europe and the United States have been known to nip at each other’s heels over various issues throughout the years - but as commentator Graham Ingham of The Economist says, the trans-Atlantic tensions forming over Iraq between the U.S. and France/Germany have become a personal crisis. “Does that mean this is a watershed for transatlantic relations?” asks Ingham. “Probably…The damage has been done -- but it needn't be irreparable.”
Aired: February 18, 2003
Commentator: Graham Ingham

EU & Palestinian Authority
EU inquiry demands investigation into whether money funded terrorism: The European Parliament is struggling with its own ethical dilemma: Some members say it’s wrong to distribute financial aid to the Palestinians…without monitoring where that money is spent. These legislators say it's possible that money coming from the European Union may have been used to fund terrorist attacks against Israelis. The European Commission has set up an inquiry, but now more than 100 legislators are demanding a more rigorous and public investigation.
Aired: February 10, 2003
Reporter: Stephen Beard

War Predictions
Marketplace's David Brancaccio talks with Bill Emmott about what history has taught him about the potential for war in the Middle East: Bill Emmott, editor-in-chief of The Economist Magazine, has a new book exploring, among other things, America's role in this new century. The book? "20:21 Vision, Twentieth-Century Lessons for the Twenty-first Century."
Aired: January 31, 2003
Reporter: David Brancaccio interviewing Bill Emmott

Oil Report
All shipping lines could be open to attack -- and some insurance companies are boosting rates in anticipation: Experts are saying the threat of war on Middle East oil shipments was worked into the price per barrel some time ago. And, future calculations may have to consider unforeseen factors: the explosion that crippled a French oil tanker off the coast of Yemen recently exposed the vulnerability of the world's tankers and the vast quantities of oil they carry. So, what if war is declared on Iraq? How vulnerable will that make the world's oil supply? Let's just say that insurance companies are getting ready…
Aired: November 12, 2002
Reporter: Stephen Beard

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