04 November 2002

From the Editor…

Welcome to the New Statesman website. Whether you are a new reader or an existing one - online or via the magazine - I hope you'll enjoy the great writing, fresh ideas and provocative debate that make the New Statesman Britain's award-winning current affairs weekly

Jason Cowley, Editor, New Statesman

Cover story

In the Middle East, you will hear the worst story ever told

For the award-winning Egyptian novelist Ahdaf Soueif, the looming war in Iraq provides a tragic narrative of ancient enemies and bloody revenge, in which the most likely victims are her fellow Arabs

By Ahdaf Soueif

Features

Iran totters between two evils

By Lindsey Hilsum

Faced with a choice between the Butcher of Baghdad and the Great Satan, which do you back?

Which one of these men would you vote for?

By Nick Cohen

On the left, David Blunkett, Labour Home Secretary. On the right, Oliver Letwin, his Tory shadow. But should their positions be reversed? Nick Cohen confronts a shocking truth

After the theatre, the drama continues

By Pavel Felgenhauer

Vladimir Putin may not be a communist, but he is a statist: he hates the Chechens as agents of Russia's humiliation. Pavel Felgenhauer reports from Moscow

Give Wayne Rooney the vote

By Nigel Griffiths MP and Beth Egan

Allow 16-year-olds in the polling booths, and cut electoral apathy

Pop the Pill and think of England

By Anthony Browne

Who's afraid of declining population? Only politicians, obsessed with power and prestige. The rest of us, particularly the workers, would be better off, argues Anthony Browne

Blame it on the archduke

By Adam Sage

Adam Sage watches Slobodan Milosevic, on trial in The Hague, frustrate the judge and the prosecuting lawyers by dredging up the feuds and military clashes of ancient history

Interview

NS Interview - Martin Narey

By Mary Riddell

The head of prisons admits that suicide rates are "hideous" and overpopulation rife; yet he wants more children locked up. Martin Narey interviewed

Regulars

New Statesman Leader

Universities: higher fees can help the poor

The Politics Column

Politics - John Kampfner wants Charles Clarke to try charm

By John Kampfner

Charles Clarke may have courage and conviction, but if he is to sort out the many problems that await him at education, he will have to do something about "the interpersonals"

Cristina Odone implores the French to shape up

By Cristina Odone

The French are satisfied with themselves; the British strive to become superior beings

Darcus Howe proposes Trevor Phillips for a top job

By Darcus Howe

I recommend Trevor Phillips to lead the Commission for Racial Equality

John Pilger predicts a great new people's movement

By John Pilger

Something is stirring among the people. Energy and organisation are far in advance of the 1960s: this may well be bigger than the anti-Vietnam war protests

Paul Routledge boasts of his three cherries

By Paul Routledge

My amazing predictions, why Hewitt didn't get education, and the Great Thirst in action

Competition

Win vouchers to spend at any Tesco store

Culture

Mandarin duck

By Salil Tripathi

Singapore hopes to become a global arts centre. But, writes Salil Tripathi, unless the authorities learn to put creative and political freedom before commerce, the city will remain a playground for expats