Will the governing coalition fall apart? The vote in the Bundestag over the deployment of German armed forces in the “War against Terrorism”.

(Four parts; details not yet known; depending on outcome of the vote)

“Who’s the ‘Pirate’?”

Afghanistan: A spokesman for the Taliban, an associate of terrorists, a contact with the West – the businessman and political advisor Ahmad Ratib Popal moves about easily in any society, but it remains a puzzle who he is pulling strings for in the background. At a meeting with DER SPIEGEL in December 2000 the adviser prefers to say nothing at all about himself. Over the following months, DER SPIEGEL makes repeated attempts to establish contact. After the attacks of September 11, Ahmad Ratib Popal turns up again – in full view, on television screens world-wide: in the Pakistani capital Islamabad, he is seen interpreting for the ambassador of the Taliban government in front of running cameras. Then, on October 24, a sensational report appears in an Arab newspaper published in London: the cover of the ambassador’s interpreter has apparently been blown. The report says that the man with the eye patch is in fact an Egyptian by the name of Usa al-Jamal. To this day, the interpreter is allegedly “one of the most important men surrounding Osama bin Laden”.

“The Time Is Ripe”

SPIEGEL interview with Nazar al-Khazraji, Saddam Hussein’s general chief-of-staff for many years, on Baghdad’s alliance with terrorism, the dictator’s weaknesses, and the possible overthrow of the Iraqi regime:

“I’m unable to provide hard evidence for any collaboration with Osama bin Laden. But there are enough reports and information to that effect from opposition circles. And what is clear is that Saddam will work with anyone who harms his own enemies … The country’s people are waiting for release. 95 percent of the population is opposed to Saddam and his regime. That’s also true of the army and its leadership. Everyone is waiting for a signal from the international community. … Even during the Gulf War, the Iraqi people would have happily welcomed General Norman Schwarzkopf and his American troops. It only has to be clear that all the activities are genuinely aimed against Saddam and that it’s not once again the civilian population that suffers, as in the case of the embargo. In addition, the path to power must be open for the opposition.”

“True Sons of Afghanistan”

Uwe Klußmann’s diary from the liberated town of Kabul:

Monday, 12 November – In the evening, in Jabol-os-Seraj, foreign minister Abdullah takes stock provisionally of the first day of the offensive. Northern Alliance troops are said to have advanced with 6000 men and to be within five kilometres of Kabul. …

Tuesday, 13 November – In the morning we drive in our jeep towards Kabul, which the Taliban left in a great hurry at dawn. … Young men, in particular, are out and about in Kabul today, to celebrate the victory over the Taliban. On the other hand, only the occasional woman ventures out into the streets, still totally veiled. …

Wednesday, 14 November – The Taliban ruled the Afghan capital with its over one million inhabitants for five years. Yet just one day after the collapse of the regime it is already impossible to find a single follower of the Warriors of God in the whole of Kabul. … Several mujahedin have mounted guard outside the building that housed the dreaded religious police, and passers-by have stuck roses in the barrels of their guns. The building looks deserted, but this impression is deceptive. … 70 religious watchdogs continue to turn up for work punctually every morning. … Religious policeman Merabudin Heyda says he definitely wants to continue his work as Allah’s supervisor in Afghanistan.

“There Are Too Many Osamas”

SPIEGEL interview with Egyptian ex-officer and journalist Issam Darraz on his former comrade-in-arms bin Laden:

“It still isn’t certain that bin Laden did devise these atrocious crimes. … America must stop giving the impression that it wants to take revenge on innocent people. And Washington should also take its boorish allies, the Afghan Northern Alliance, in hand. … Even if Osama bin Laden were captured, the wave of terrorism would continue.”

“The Arrogance of Humility”

Polemic by Henryk M. Broder: On the tendency among Germans towards self-contempt, and their desire to preserve their innocence, even after September 11. What lies behind this pose? The debate over whether Germany was liberated or democratically colonialised, continues to simmer beneath the surface of public German-American festivals. And at the peace movement’s most recent parades, placards could be seen not only bearing references to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but also to Dresden and Hamburg. Germans are still upset by the experience of having been unable to liberate themselves on their own. But much as we like to talk about the Americanisation of the world, we turn a blind eye to the Germanification of Europe. We resent something about America that we would actually like to do ourselves.

John Malone, head of Liberty Media which owns a large share of the German cable television network, is considering getting involved in Leo Kirch’s group.

“Systematic Murder”

War crimes: Far more Allied airmen were lynched during the Second World War than has previously been known. The perpetrators were usually not outraged victims of the bombings, but Nazi henchmen. In many places, the Germans have repressed the memory of one of the dark chapters of the final stages of World War II, or simply touched up their accounts of the events. In fact, as historians and local researchers have discovered, hundreds of defenceless airmen held as prisoners of war were probably systematically massacred on Nazi orders.

“Healthy Sitting on Miracle Sofas”

Esotericism: Occultists and pseudo-scientists have a great following in Russia. Now natural scientists have begun to fight back against the country’s relapse into superstition. In the face of the general crisis in the country, Russians are succumbing to the intoxication of wishful thinking. An entire industry feeds on this. Magicians and sorceresses, fortune-tellers and healers offer their services in newspaper ads, in TV commercials, posters in underground trains and neon signs on the walls of houses. Meanwhile, the mass media are busily fanning the flames of confusion.