Middle East Conflict

Fresh Air producer Amy Salit interviews Joe Stork, the editor-chief of "Middle East Report." He'll discuss the unequal distribution of wealth in the Middle East. Kuwait's has a strong economy tied to their oil production; their reluctance to share it with other, poorer, Arab countries has been cited as one of the motives behind Iraq's invasion.

We look at the state of human rights in the region--particularly in Iraq before the start of the Gulf War--as well as elsewhere around the world. Kenneth Roth, the deputy director of Human Rights Watch, shares his insights.

First, reporter Pat Ford talks with retired Admiral Eugene Carroll, of the Center for Defense Information. They examine latest developments in the Gulf War. He'll speculate on what was discussed at this weekend's meeting between Secretary of Defense Dick Chaney, Chief of Staff Colin Powell, and commanding general Norman Schwarzkopf.

Then, Terry talks with the Science Advisor to King Hussain of Jordan, Doctor Abdullah Toucan. They'll discuss the environmental consequences of the Gulf War in light of Saddam Hussein's threat to destroy oil fields.

Terry interview stand-up comedian Jimmy Tingle. Tingle's forte is political humor. He talks about keeping his comedy relevant but respectful to all involved in the Gulf War.

Economist Robert Kuttner joins Fresh Air to talk about how the war affects the economy. Though the stock market has soared, the real economy has suffered, the the national debt grows deeper every day.

Milton Viorst is a frequent contributor to the New Yorker who's written extensively about the Middle East. He talks with Fresh Air producer Pat Ford about the relationship between the U.S. and Jordan under the leadership of King Hussein.

We look at international law with Alfred Rubin, a professor at Tufts University. He'll look at whether the recent bombing that killed hundreds in Iraq was a legal action, and the treatment of POWs in the Gulf War.

We talk with Iraq emigre Laith Kubba, the leader of the London-based group, "The Conference on Human Rights and Democracy in Iraq." He'll give his view of this morning's peace proposal, and he'll discuss the feasibility of democracy in a post-Saddam Iraq.

Fred Halliday, professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics, discusses some possible motives for the Soviet Union's attempt to find an end to the Gulf War -- including how these negotiations could affect relations with the United States. He'll also give us a primer on the history of the Soviet Union's relations with Iraq.

Say's brother is Terry Anderson, the Associated Press reporter who's been held hostage in Lebanon since March 1985. During the past five years, Say has worked to free her brother, and to keep the American government, and the American people from forgetting her brother's plight. Her new memoir documents that ordeal.

The British journalist has avoided the government-established pool system, which gives military access to reporters, but requires them to have their stories cleared before they're published. He explains his reasons in conversation with Terry Gross.

In the next day, there may be a cease-fire in Iraq, or a ground war could begin. James Adams, the defense correspondent for The Sunday Times of London, talks about the mood at the Pentagon in light of proposed negotiations.

Terry talks with Alex Molnar, the founder of the Military Families Support Network, a support group that's very critical of the government's handling of the war.

Terry talks with the great violinist Isaac Stern. Last week he was performing a concert in Israel when the sirens went off signaling a missle attack. The audience put on their gas masks, and the orchestra left the stage. But Stern stayed and continued to play.

Retired Colonel Howard Levie is Professor Emeritus of Law, St. Louis University. He's written a study about prisoners of war, "Prisoners of War in International Armed Conflict." In light of the growing number of Iraqi soldiers surrendering, he talk to Terry about the history of P.O.W.s and the laws governing their treatment.

Terry features two guests in this segment.

First, Amitav Ghosh is an Indian writer and anthropologist. Terry talks to him about an essay he wrote in the January issue of the literary magazine Granta called "An Egyptian in Baghdad." One of his friends went to work in Iraq several years ago; that friend was still in Baghdad when the war started. Ghosh felt that much of the press about the war was depersonalized, and wanted to write about the life of one person caught up in the conflict.

From London, Dr. Muhammad Al-Rumayhi, editor of the "Voice of Kuwait," a paper of the resistance. Ten days after the Iraqis invaded Kuwait, they started publishing leaflets from London. Since then, the Voice of Kuwait has been distributed to Kuwaitis living in exile throughout the Middle East. Al-Rumayhi leaves today to return to his home country.

Terry checks in Zahya Khamis, a poet from the United Arab Emirates who now lives in Cairo. She's been having a lot of conversations with other Arab artists and intellectuals, all of whom hold diverse views about the war and Saddam Hussein.

Now that combat has ended in the Persian Gulf, Fred Halliday, professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics speculates on the fate of Iraq's dictator, who, as of now, remains in power.

Terry talks with David McReynolds co-secretary of the War Resistors League. The group advised military men and women who didn't want to fight in the Gulf, and coordinated the peace movement. McReynolds regrets the war couldn't be stopped -- which cost the lives of many soldiers and civilians.