"He hid weapons of mass destruction in all sorts of odd places. But we saw him hide it. We took photographs. We recorded discussions. We saw his links with terrorists. It is most evil empire on earth right now. And he must be stopped!"

This story-teller is not some fiction writer. Or some movie star from Hollywood, entertainment capital of world. And scene is far removed from Frankenstein territory. But this story-teller is a former war general turned American Secretary of State named Collins Powell. The scene is floor of great United Nations, which some folks who have a bad sense of humor call Talking Nations. The major character of story is Saddam Hussein. And devilish empire is Iraq.

The high point of JAMES BOND story is not satellite photographs (after all where are weapons?) nor is it Al Qaeda connection (after all if you are not with us you are against us - by George Bush). But most interesting point of over one-hour speech at Talking Nations, sorry United Nations, is voice recording. For these "devils" in Iraq were actually saying "hide it, hide it, hide it" in reference to weapons of mass destruction, sorry wepunmassdistrucshun. I actually like literary effect (The Arabic version is musical to ears).

And after great "revelation," war mongers went to town. They said that it has been proved that Iraq is actually a threat to world peace. What do they call a proven theory in Latin? Quod erat Demonstradum. Yes, theory has been demonstrated that if Iraq is not disarmed right now, that "madman" directing events in that country will cause historians issuing titles like THE END OF ORDER. Or THE END OF HISTORY. Or THE END OF THE WORLD. What a pity! And these war mongers rolled out Ukulele drum, and serenaded movie star, Collins Powell.

But pacifists were not impressed. First in that number was Inspection Team in Iraq who thought they would have been handed these evidences ab initio, instead of making it a public show. (Forget them for they know not rules of script writing.) Then Iraqi officials called it a cock-and-bull story. (Make it a cattle-and-ram story.) France and Germany say no to war. (Americans call them old Europe) And even Russia is not impressed. Is it because they have their hands on Iraqi oil? (Never mind anyway. That Powerless country is part of "pieces of eight")

Before then, Africa's Nelson Mandela, was up in arms against George Bush Jnr. and Tony Blair. He called Bush an arrogant man intent in plunging world into a holocaust, calling Blair George Bush's foreign minister .He even says that Bush wants to render UN irrelevant because an African -Koffi Annan - not a Whiteman, is Secretary-General.

But some wonder why Mandela said so. Is it that old age is telling on him? And he is forgetting things as if he crossed River Lethe. Or drank Mandragora. Does he not know that Tony Blair, Britain's Prime Minister cannot be a foreign minister to president of another sovereign country? And it pained not a few Africans that this their illustrious son has forgotten elementary government.