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It is a common belief that the "Arab-Israeli conflict" is a conflict of two peoples fighting over the same piece of land and is therefore one of nationalism. Rarely, if ever, do we hear or read of the religious component to this conflict. However, if anything, the conflict is more of a "Muslim-Jewish" one than an "Arab-Israeli" one. In other words, the conflict is based on religion -- Islam vs. Judaism -- cloaked in Arab nationalism vs. Zionism. The fact of the matter is that in every Arab-Israeli war, from 1948 to the present, cries of "jihad," "Allahu Akbar," and...

Iraqis in Australia Cast First Votes in Election SYDNEY (Reuters) - Iraqis in Australia cast the first votes in their homeland's long-awaited election on Friday, and celebrated the historic moment by dancing in the streets. Exiles gathered at nine polling stations around Australia, some proudly displaying the blue ink on their fingers which proved that they had cast their ballots. "When I look at the ink on my finger -- this is a mark of freedom," said Kassim Abood, outside a polling booth in a disused furniture warehouse in western Sydney. "I didn't think I would live long enough to...

PORTLAND, Ore. - Of all states, Ralph Nader should have had no trouble getting onto the Oregon presidential ballot given the support he's had here. Most political observers had expected Nader would easily draw enough supporters at a Monday evening petition-signing rally intended to make Oregon the first state to qualify Nader for the 2004 ballot. But only 741 people showed up — far short of the 1,000 required by Oregon law. "Even the best basketball player doesn't get a slam-dunk every time," Nader told his supporters. Still, Nader said he would not abandon his quest to qualify for the...