Smoke billows from an explosion in Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s guest palace after it is bombed during a US-led coalition air raid on March 31, 2003. AFP
Smoke billows from an explosion in Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s guest palace after it is bombed during a US-led coalition air raid on March 31, 2003. AFP

2003 - The US war on Iraq

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Updated 19 April 2025
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2003 - The US war on Iraq

2003 - The US war on Iraq

JEDDAH: What shall we call the 2003 US war in Iraq? The Americans had no problem at all in describing it as a liberation. From the Arab perspective, however, it was something completely different.

If you flip through editions of Arab News published in the lead-up to the start of the bombing of Baghdad on the night of March 20, 2003, what strikes you is that many Arabs were opposed to the US war in Iraq because they, correctly, foresaw that the result would be to hand the country to Iran on a platter.

US President George W. Bush was always prejudiced against Saddam Hussein. Bush’s cabinet colleagues and advisers, especially Donald Rumsfeld, Richard Perle and other neocons in the administration, made no attempt to hide their own pathological dislike of the Iraqi leader.

There were several theories for why Bush despised Saddam so. Some reports suggested the hatred stemmed from Saddam plotting to kill his father, former President George H. W. Bush, during a visit to Kuwait in 1993. Whatever the reasons, Bush Jr.’s advisers took full advantage of the president’s strong dislike and fed it with a variety of stories.

The horrific attacks on US soil by Al-Qaeda on Sept. 11, 2001, gave Bush and his advisers a reason to take out Saddam. He was portrayed as a supporter of Al-Qaeda and its leader, Osama bin Laden, and was therefore tarred with the same brush of Muslim terrorism.

Nobody in the Middle East was taken in by this story, however, because it was well known there that Saddam hated Al-Qaeda more than anything else. As a Baathist, he viewed Islamist terrorists as a great threat to his rule, much more so even than the danger posed by his archenemy, Iran.

How we wrote it




The “High Noon for Cowboy Era” headline, with Bush in a cowboy hat, remains one of the newspaper’s most iconic front pages.

But the post-9/11 atmosphere was such that it was easy to create any narrative as justification for the elimination of any perceived enemy. That is exactly what happened with Saddam. A flimsy case was put together that alleged he was in possession of weapons of mass destruction, based on flawed intelligence.

Colin Powell, Bush’s secretary of state, gave an elaborate speech to the UN, complete with maps and pictures of where the WMDs allegedly were hidden. The wider world was nonetheless unconvinced, and the UN, which had sent its own experts to Iraq on a fruitless search for such weapons, refused to approve Washington’s war.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal raised serious concerns on “Frontline,” an investigative documentary series on the US TV network PBS.

“What’s going to happen to them (Iraqi soldiers and officials), especially since the army was disbanded and the government fired? And who’s going to rule Iraq if you have that?” he asked.

“Saddam Hussein had perhaps 2 million people controlling Iraq. The US and its allies have close to 150,000. How do you make that work?”

Nonetheless, Washington developed and choreographed its plan to attack Iraq. Arab News published many reports at the time about how Saudi authorities advised the US, its closest Western ally, to call for sanctions instead.

Key Dates

  • 1

    US Secretary of State Colin Powell addresses the UN Security Council and offers a rationale for war on Iraq: the country’s alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction.

    Timeline Image Feb. 5, 2003

  • 2

    American aircraft launch a blistering attack on Baghdad. Dubbed “shock and awe,” it knocks out Iraqi anti-missile batteries, aircraft and power installations. The presidential palace is attacked.

    Timeline Image March 20, 2003

  • 3

    US President George W. Bush flies to aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in a Lockheed S-3 Viking aircraft and gives a speech in which he announces the end of major combat operations in Iraq.

    Timeline Image May 1, 2003

  • 4

    Saddam Hussein captured after 9 months in hiding.

    Timeline Image Dec. 13, 2003

  • 5

    Saddam executed after sham trial by the interim Iraqi government. Despite prolonged searches by the US, no WMDs are found in Iraq.

    Timeline Image Dec. 30, 2006

  • 6

    After nearly 9 years of a guerrilla war, the last US soldiers leave Iraq. The estimated cost of the conflict exceeds $800 billion, with 4,500 American and more than 100,000 Iraqi lives lost.

 

Even after Saddam had invaded Kuwait in the early 1990s, and his army was pulverized by the US and Saudi-led liberation forces, Riyadh had gone to great lengths to convince Washington it would be a bad move to remove Saddam from power. Saudi officials knew his demise would lead to chaos in the region and provide Iran with a golden opportunity to run amok.

Sure enough, as things panned out a little over a decade later, the removal of Saddam did indeed lead to horrific atrocities, both in Iraq and the wider region. Al-Qaeda, which had been given a severe drubbing in Afghanistan, bounced back and found an ideal and very fertile breeding ground in post-Saddam Iraq.

Much later, Daesh appeared on the scene. Sensing an opening, Iran stepped in and unleashed a sectarian war. Thousands died. Tehran and its many murderous militias used improvised explosive devices to devastating effect.

As a senior member of staff at Arab News, I was part of the team that would select stories and photos for the front page. Some from that time remain etched in our memories. The front page on March 19, 2003, for example, pictured Bush in a cowboy hat under the headline: “High noon for cowboy era.”

That same front page also reported on King Fahd’s address to the Saudi people on March 18 in which he said: “The Kingdom will under no circumstances take part in the war against Iraq, and its armed forces will not enter an inch of Iraqi territory.”

Baghdad was bombed for the first time the next night, after a 48-hour ultimatum issued by Bush to Saddam expired. There was extensive reporting by Arab News from Kuwait, Jordan, Washington and, of course, Baghdad. Our correspondents on the ground filed their reports to the newsroom in Jeddah. The March 21, 2003, edition carried the headline: “Baghdad set ablaze; palaces, Saddam’s family home targeted in aerial bombardment.”

On the nights that followed, the US unleashed at least 3,000 satellite-guided bombs and cruise missiles upon Iraq. There was not an Iraqi weapon of mass destruction in sight. In the “Letters to the Editor” page of Arab News, readers referred to these elusive WMDs as “weapons of mass deception.”

There was intense and severe criticism in Saudi Arabia of the war, especially because the UN had refused to approve it. In an article in the March 21, 2003, edition, Adnan Jaber, a Jordanian journalist in Saudi Arabia, said the conflict “would increase terrorism rather than reduce it, since political instability would provide a breeding ground for radicalism.”




Iraqis watch the televised execution by hanging of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein, the “Butcher of Baghdad” captured by US forces in Operation Red Dawn. AFP

His words were profoundly prescient. The very political instability he predicted led many members of Saddam’s army, which the Americans had foolishly disbanded, to join Daesh and Al-Qaeda so that they could strike a blow against the invaders who had ravaged their homeland for no purpose.

There were, as in all wars, moments of dark comic relief. We would gather around TV screens in the newsroom, for example, to listen to Saddam’s information minister, Mohammed Saeed Al-Sahaf, making ridiculous claims as he addressed the media every day.

According to him, Saddam’s army was on the verge of victory; the reality was exactly the opposite. The much-touted American campaign of “shock and awe” had resulted in the melting away of the Iraqi military, who offered no resistance. It was later revealed that Iraqi soldiers simply gave up their uniforms and chose guerrilla warfare by joining Daesh or Al-Qaeda.

The region continues to suffer the consequences of that war: an increase in terrorism; political instability, and the creation of breeding ground for radicalism. In virtually all ways, the consequences were much worse than the war itself.

Arab News was well placed to report on the war and its after-effects, and is proud to continue the same tradition of dedicated and responsible journalism to this day.

  • Siraj Wahab is managing editor of Arab News. During the invasion of Iraq, he was a senior member of staff, having joined the newspaper in January 1998.


Pakistan warns of more rains, floods as monsoon death toll hits 105 since June

Pakistan warns of more rains, floods as monsoon death toll hits 105 since June
Updated 6 min 38 sec ago
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Pakistan warns of more rains, floods as monsoon death toll hits 105 since June

Pakistan warns of more rains, floods as monsoon death toll hits 105 since June
  • Third spell of seasonal rains expected to begin July 14, meteorological department says
  • Punjab reports highest number of fatalities, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned on Monday heavy monsoon downpours are likely to trigger flash floods and landslides across several regions of the country this week, as the death toll from rain-related incidents since June 26 rose to 105.

The toll includes 40 deaths in Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province, followed by 31 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 17 in Sindh, 16 in Balochistan, and one reported fatality in Azad Kashmir, according to official figures.

A total of 211 people have been injured in rain-related incidents, with Punjab again reporting the highest number (111), followed by KP (54), Sindh (7), Azad Kashmir (5), and Balochistan (4).

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has warned that a third spell of monsoon rains is expected to begin across the country from today, Monday, July 14.

“A low-pressure area (LPA) presently located over northwest Madhya Pradesh (India) is likely to affect Pakistan during next 24 to 72 hours,” the PMD said in its forecast.

“Under the influence of this weather system, strong monsoon currents are expected to penetrate central and upper parts [of the country]. A westerly wave is also present over upper parts of the country.”

The PMD said heavy rains with wind and thunderstorms are likely in most parts of KP, Punjab, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Islamabad and northeast and southern Balochistan on Monday.

“Scattered heavy falls (at times very heavy) are likely in Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Punjab, and northeastern Balochistan,” it added.

Authorities have warned of possible landslides and mudslides in hilly areas such as Murree, Galliyat, KP, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, which could result in road closures and blockades.

“Heavy downpour may cause urban flood in low-lying areas of Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Nowshera, and Peshawar,” the PMD said. “Caution is advised for the public.”

The NDMA has called on provincial and district administrations to prepare emergency response teams, ensure the availability of rescue machinery, and clear drainage systems in urban areas. Tourists have been advised to avoid high-altitude areas during the period of heavy rainfall.

Pakistan, a country of more than 240 million people, is among the nations most vulnerable to climate change. In 2022, record monsoon rains combined with glacial melt caused catastrophic flooding that affected 33 million people and killed more than 1,700.


EU climate VP seeks ‘fair competition’ with China on green energy

EU climate VP seeks ‘fair competition’ with China on green energy
Updated 8 min 12 sec ago
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EU climate VP seeks ‘fair competition’ with China on green energy

EU climate VP seeks ‘fair competition’ with China on green energy
  • Deep frictions exist over economic relations between the 27-nation bloc and Beijing

BEIJING: The European Union is seeking "fair competition" with China and not a race to the bottom in wages and environmental standards, the bloc's vice president for the clean transition told AFP on Monday.

Deep frictions exist over economic relations between the 27-nation bloc and Beijing.

Brussels is worried that a manufacturing glut propelled by massive state subsidies could add to a yawning trade deficit and result in a flood of cheap Chinese goods undercutting European firms.

Speaking during a visit to Beijing ahead of a major EU-China summit in the city this month, Teresa Ribera dismissed China's claims that the bloc was engaging in "protectionism".

"We Europeans don't want to go down a race towards low incomes, lower labour rights or lower environmental standards," said Ribera, who also serves as the bloc's competition chief.

"It is obvious that we could not be in a good position if there could be an ... over-flooding in our markets that could undermine us with prices that do not reflect the real cost," she said.

The EU imposed extra import taxes of up to 35 percent on Chinese electric vehicle imports in October and has investigated Chinese-owned solar panel manufacturers.

Asked whether EU moves against Chinese green energy firms could harm the global transition to renewables, Ribera said: "It is fair to say that, yes, we may benefit in the very short term."

However, she also warned "it could kill the possibility" of long-term investment in the bloc's future.



Ribera's visit comes as Beijing seeks to improve relations with the European Union as a counterweight to superpower rival the United States, whose President Donald Trump has disrupted the global order and pulled Washington out of international climate accords.

"I don't think that we have witnessed many occasions in the past where a big economy, a big country, decides to isolate in such a relevant manner," she told AFP.

"It is a pity.

"The Chinese may think that the United States has given them a great opportunity to be much more relevant in the international arena," Ribera said.

The visit also comes as the bloc and the United States wrangle over a trade deal. Trump threw months of negotiations into disarray on Saturday by announcing he would hammer the bloc with sweeping tariffs if no agreement was reached by August 1.

Ribera vowed on Monday that the EU would "defend the interests of our companies, our society, our business".

Asked if a deal was in sight, she said: "Who knows? We'll do our best."

However, she insisted that EU digital competition rules -- frequently condemned by Trump as "non-tariff barriers" to trade -- were not on the table.

"It's a question of sovereignty," Ribera said.

"We are not going to compromise on the way we understand that we need to defend our citizens and our society, our values and our market."


Father of American man slain by Israeli settlers tells Arab News US officials do not care

Father of American man slain by Israeli settlers tells Arab News US officials do not care
Updated 28 min 5 sec ago
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Father of American man slain by Israeli settlers tells Arab News US officials do not care

Father of American man slain by Israeli settlers tells Arab News US officials do not care
  • Sayfollah Musallet was beaten to death on his family’s land in the West Bank
  • ‘Where is the outcry from America for an American? We need justice now’

CHICAGO: Kamel Musallet, the father of a 20-year-old American citizen slain by Israeli settlers on Friday, told Arab News that US officials should treat his son’s killing “the same way they’d treat the murder of any American in any country.”

Sayfollah Musallet was beaten to death by settlers on land the family owns outside the Palestinian village of Al-Mazra’a Ash-Sharqiya in the occupied West Bank.

The family are American citizens of Palestinian heritage who have lived in Port Charlotte, Florida, most of their lives.

Sayfollah Musallet, who was born and raised in Florida, went to see family in Al-Mazra’a Ash-Sharqiya when he was confronted by “gangs of settlers” on their nearby land.

Kamel Musallet said he has only received condolences from “someone” at the US Embassy in Jerusalem, but not from any American officials in the US. 

“Where is the concern? My son is an American,” he added, describing him as “a kind person, a good person.”

He said Israeli soldiers prevented family and friends from reaching his son, and medical personnel from treating him.

“He was there, injured, dying, for nearly three hours … The settlers killed him and nothing has been done,” he added.

“Settlers have been going to Palestinian-owned lands randomly attacking any Palestinians they see, trying to steal these lands.

“They’re trying to put tents up on these lands to create new settlements, destroying olive trees and killing farm animals … We’ve asked for protection but have gotten nothing … They’ve been doing this for years.”

He added: “My whole family is American. Who is speaking up in America for our rights, our lives? Where is the outcry from America for an American? We need justice now.”

He said his son had been running an ice cream store that the family opened a year before in Tampa, Florida.

“Sayfollah was such a kind soul, a hard worker. I'm an entrepreneur, so he wanted to be like me … He left a positive impression on everyone he met.”


Jeddah to host the fourth round of the Formula One powerboat world championship

Jeddah to host the fourth round of the Formula One powerboat world championship
Updated 38 min 48 sec ago
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Jeddah to host the fourth round of the Formula One powerboat world championship

Jeddah to host the fourth round of the Formula One powerboat world championship

JEDDAH: As part of the Jeddah Season 2025 programs and activities, Jeddah will host the fourth round of the UIM F1H2O World Championship, which will take place from Nov. 28 to 30.

This was announced by Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz, deputy governor of the Makkah Region and head of the Jeddah Events Calendar Committee.

The event in Jeddah will be the second time the Road World Championships take place in Saudi Arabia after the 2019 edition in Dammam.

The Grand Prix of Jeddah will feature 10 teams from 13 countries competing with 21 boats, driving boats with a top speed of 266 km per hour, challenging the limits of speed.

Commenting on this round, Raimondo di San Germano, CEO of H2O Racing, expressed his delight at Saudi Arabia’s return to hosting the UIM F1H2O World Championship competitions, stating, “We are extremely excited to witness this thrill in Jeddah, the Bride of the Red Sea.”

He also noted that this partnership represents the beginning of a long-term collaboration and development for the championship across various levels.

The UIM F1H2O World Championship, organized by the Union Internationale Motonautique and promoted by H2O Racing, is considered one of the world’s most competitive, dangerous and thrilling sports championships.


Driving KSA’s digital future: Cisco’s Saudi chief talks AI, cybersecurity and local talent development

Driving KSA’s digital future: Cisco’s Saudi chief talks AI, cybersecurity and local talent development
Updated 38 min 58 sec ago
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Driving KSA’s digital future: Cisco’s Saudi chief talks AI, cybersecurity and local talent development

Driving KSA’s digital future: Cisco’s Saudi chief talks AI, cybersecurity and local talent development

On the sidelines of Cisco Connect KSA, Salman Faqeeh, managing director of Cisco Saudi Arabia, discussed how the global technology leader is helping to accelerate the Kingdom’s digital transformation and build a future-ready economy. With nearly three decades of presence in Saudi Arabia, Cisco’s story is closely intertwined with the country’s ambitions under Vision 2030.

Powering the AI revolution in Saudi Arabia

As Saudi Arabia doubles down on its efforts to lead the AI revolution, Cisco is working hand-in-hand with government and enterprise partners to build the infrastructure of the future. Faqeeh highlighted Cisco’s groundbreaking initiative with HUMAIN, Saudi Arabia’s homegrown AI enterprise, to build one of the world’s most open and scalable AI infrastructures.

“Saudi Arabia is laying the foundation for a globally competitive AI ecosystem,” Faqeeh said. “With local data centers already operational for security cloud services and the Webex platform, and plans underway to bring the Meraki cloud to the Kingdom, Cisco is committed to enabling businesses to scale confidently in a cloud-first, AI-driven world.”

Upskilling the next generation

Beyond technology, Cisco is investing heavily in Saudi talent. Faqeeh announced the company’s plans to launch the Cisco AI Institute at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, a center dedicated to driving AI innovation and preparing the next generation of Saudi talent.

Cisco is also scaling its efforts through digital upskilling, pledging free training for 500,000 learners over the next five years in critical areas such as AI, cybersecurity, and data science. This builds on the success of Cisco’s Networking Academy, which has already trained over 401,000 learners in the Kingdom — 36 percent of whom are women.

“Our goal is to prepare Saudi talent to thrive in an AI-powered world,” Faqeeh said. “Partnerships with institutions like King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology are also helping expand the pool of Cisco Certified Internetwork Experts, ensuring the Kingdom has the skilled workforce it needs to manage complex networks that support the AI future.”

Driving local manufacturing

Cisco is also laying the groundwork for local manufacturing operations in Saudi Arabia, starting with wireless technologies. According to Faqeeh, this effort will evolve in response to market demand, supporting the Kingdom’s goal of building a sustainable and diversified economy.

A rapidly advancing digital landscape

Reflecting on the pace of digital transformation, Faqeeh praised Saudi Arabia’s vision and execution. Over the past six years, the government has invested more than $24.8 billion in digital infrastructure. Internet penetration has reached 99 percent, with mobile Internet speeds surpassing 215 Mbps. The Kingdom now ranks first regionally and fourth globally for government digital services.

“Saudi Arabia is no longer just a consumer of technology; it’s becoming a global leader,” Faqeeh said. “We see immense opportunities for Cisco to contribute, especially in building AI-ready data centers, driving digital resilience, and developing future-proof workplaces.”

Strengthening cybersecurity in the age of AI

With the Kingdom accelerating its adoption of emerging technologies, cybersecurity has become a top priority. Cisco’s recent Cybersecurity Readiness Index shows that 91 percent of Saudi organizations experienced AI-related cyber incidents last year, yet an impressive 93 percent of organizations already leverage AI in strengthening security strategies. 

“Cybercriminals are using AI to automate and scale their attacks. Organizations can no longer rely solely on human-scale defenses,” Faqeeh explained. “Cisco is embedding AI across its security portfolio to help SecOps teams assist, automate, and augment their capabilities.”

Cisco’s AI Defense solution protects both the development and use of AI applications, safeguarding enterprises against misuse, data leakage, and sophisticated cyberthreats. Also Cisco’s cloud security data center in Saudi Arabia powers cloud-based security services such as Secure Service Edge, Cisco Secure Access, and Umbrella DNS, providing local organizations with flexible, AI-powered protection.

Preparing for the future of industry transformation

Looking ahead, Faqeeh highlighted several critical trends shaping Saudi Arabia’s industries. AI is transforming sectors from healthcare to finance, with organizations deploying secure, scalable infrastructures to harness practical AI use cases — such as predictive maintenance and automated onboarding.

The next leap, he said, will be agentic AI: autonomous AI tools capable of learning and acting independently. Supporting this evolution will require ultra-fast, low-latency, energy-efficient networks, as well as integrated security at every layer.

“We are on the verge of an AI-powered future that is difficult to fully comprehend today,” Faqeeh said. “The infrastructure we build now — whether in networking, compute, or cybersecurity — will determine how far we can go.”

Vision 2030: A blueprint for the digital economy

Saudi Arabia’s transformation is already bearing fruit. The digital economy contributes 15 percent to the GDP, equivalent to SR495 billion ($132 billion). The ICT market surpassed SR180 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $43.5 billion by 2027. The AI sector alone is expected to add $135 billion to the Saudi economy by 2030, accounting for 12 percent of the GDP.

“Vision 2030 isn’t just a set of goals — it’s a blueprint for building a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy,” Faqeeh added. “At Cisco, we are proud to partner with Saudi Arabia on this journey, helping turn bold ambitions into reality.”