From the podium of the United Nations, he warned Yasser Arafat, although not by name, that he may also find himself on the wrong side of the US war against terrorism.  Arafat, together with Syria, Lebanon and Iran have been trying to make the case that Hezbollah and Hamas are not terrorists, but are instead 'freedom fighters' in a war against the Israeli 'oppressors'. In his speech, Bush made only a passing nod to Palestinian aspirations of statehood. "We are working toward a day when two states, Israel and Palestine, live peacefully together," he said. "But peace will only come when all have sworn off forever violence, incitement and terror." There was some speculation that Yasser Arafat would use the meeting of the General Assembly to declare a Palestinian state. Bush's comments made it extremely unlikely that such a declaration would be warmly received. Bush's national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, said he was not ready to hold even a symbolic meeting with Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian leader, at the UN this weekend.

World leaders reacted generally positively to Bush's call in a speech at the United Nations yesterday, for all nations and faiths to join forces against those responsible for the September 11 carnage at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Many UN leaders expressed uneasiness about the toll the US strikes were taking on the shattered Afghan people.

It is difficult to find quality news about the refugees and civilian victims in the war. The mainstream press largely ignores the very real concerns that there are innocent victims in this war in Afghanistan and that many may soon starve with many thousands of starvation deaths likely in December and January.

US intelligence agencies are recruiting psychics to help predict future attacks and to find Osama Bin Laden. The recruits, known as "remote viewers", claim to be able to visualize happenings in distant places by using paranormal powers. Prudence Calabrese, whose Trans-dimensional Systems employs 14 remote viewers, confirmed that the FBI had asked the company to predict likely targets of future terrorist attacks. "Our reports suggest a sports stadium could be a likely target," she said. Angela Thompson-Smith and Lyn Buchanan claim to have previous experience with this kind of work for the government and said that they, too, had been approached. The FBI and CIA refused to comment but confirmed investigators have been told to "think out of the box".

Housing costs are dropping as mortgage rates now are as low as in 1967. Unemployment shot up to 5.4 percent in October and probably will rise again in November. Consumer confidence has taken a huge hit. The value of goods and services produced in this country continues to free-fall.

In Afghanistan, pressure by the Northern Alliance is gaining against the Taliban on the ground. After the latest advances, the Northern Alliance said it would allow the United Nations and nongovernmental agencies to return to areas now under its control and resume providing aid to local populations. Humanitarian relief for Afghan refugees and those caught in between battlefields or in remote areas is just far too little. Now, with the winter threatening to cut many off from possible rescue and relief, the story is promising to be one of unimaginable horrors for thousands and perhaps tens of thousands. The humanitarian organization Oxfam said tens of thousands of people in remote regions of Afghanistan could be dead within months unless actions to prevent starvation get top priority!

The administration is focusing on public opinion abroad, turning an effort to take its case to the foreign news media. Support for freezing assets belonging to the terrorists, military support, intelligence, and  diplomatic supports all are crucial for the US effort in Afghanistan.

Heavy-duty bombs and targeting aided by special forces on the ground have helped the United States hit hidden Taliban arms depots and command centers.