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ago, the Kurdish government declared all buying and selling of weapons illegal; even licensed dealers had their permits rescinded -- but this hasn't stopped the gun market.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