Saddam's sideshow Western pronouncements on Iraq reached a threatening and decisive note (again), as the UN ordered its weapons inspectors out of the country. There is little room for diplomacy, as Britain and the US have made it clear they are prepared to attack without warning if inspections are impeded. An attempt to divert attention from domestic American politics? There were suggestions that impeachment proceedings against President Clinton might be postponed and it would certainly take at least a war to distract the nation's attention from Monicagate.
Yasser's yes-vote Meanwhile, President Clinton met Israeli and Palestinian leaders on a three-day Middle East peace tour. At a vote of the Palestinian National Council, Clinton urged an enraptured crowd to reject a policy of violence against Israel. A forest of arms eagerly shot up. However, the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, suspended the Wye peace agreement.
William's witch-hunt In a move fuelling suspicions that the Conservatives in the Lords have done a deal with the government, their new leader Lord Strathclyde announced plans that will allow the controversial "closed-list" system for the European elections to be law by Christmas. But their pretence of opposition has made for some worrying language, as Lord Mackay dismissed the plans as "this essentially un-British" electoral system. Joe McCarthy lives!
KLA's clashes The worst violence since the start of the Kosovo crisis occurred in a battle on Monday 14 December, in which 31 ethnic Albanian rebels were shot by Serb forces as they smuggled in arms from Albania. Increasingly it appears that the ceasefire is merely an opportunity for re-armament before all-out war in the spring. Certainly the Kosovo Liberation Army seemed uninterested in peace as it showed off its new arctic warfare uniform at a press conference. Will Albanian kids now demand the new strip for Christmas?
Lois's lament The last edition of the European appeared, as the ill-fated paper was at last forced to fold. Loyal readers still browsing the business pages may have noticed a brief article on: "Unemployment: give us a job, please". The piece bitterly describes the hostile world the staff of the weekly is being thrown into. And the brave author reporting the harsh reality? Why, it's "Lois Lane".
