Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe SADDAM HUSSEIN ISSUES WARNING Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is warning potential attackers of "disgraceful failure," in a speech to the nation Thursday. Although he did not mention any names, Hussein says any aggression against Iraq is doomed to failure. Advertisement "One of the lessons of recent and distant history is that all empires and bearers of the coffin of evil, whenever they mobilized their evil against the Arab nation or against the Muslim world, they were themselves buried in their own coffin," he said. The speech, made on the anniversary of the end of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, comes amid reported U.S. plans to attack Iraq and topple its leader, United Press International reports. Washington wants Baghdad to allow U.N. weapons' inspectors back into the country. Iraqi diplomats recently met with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and have asked a U.S. congressional team to come to the country to look for weapons of mass destruction. Washington has rejected those moves. Advertisement -- Did the United States suffer after going against Iraq in the Gulf War? -- Should the congressional team go to Iraq to look for weapons of mass destruction? HIGHER TUITION FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS Public university students nationwide are likely to face larger classes, longer lines, fewer course options and higher tuition bills when they return to campus in a few weeks, USA TODAY reports. Because of cuts in state funding, tuition is going up at four-year public universities, which educate 40 percent -- the largest share -- of the nation's 15 million college students. Most institutions are holding tuition and fee increases to single digits, but some hikes, such as at Texas A&M University in College Station, are up 26 percent. States, which are required to balance their budgets each year, are not legally obligated to fund higher education. Last year, annual tuition and fees for a four-year public university averaged $3,754 for state residents compared with $17,123 for a private college, according to the College Board. -- Should state universities promise the cost of tuition will not go up more than the cost of inflation for the four years a student attends? Advertisement -- Do public universities do a poor job of managing their financial resources? FREE SEPT. 11 FLIGHTS SNAPPED UP Travelers booked all 13,400 seats on Spirit Airlines 90 flights for Sept. 11 in less than seven hours, with calls overwhelming the carrier's reservations center. The Florida-based airline says Tuesday's giveaway was to thank its customers on the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks, United Press International reports. "The response was even far faster than we though it would be," says Ned Homfeld, Spirit's chairman. Spirit made the offer after major carriers like American Airlines and United reduced flights because of slow bookings for the Sept. 11 anniversary date. Spirit passengers already holding tickets for travel on Sept. 11 will receive vouchers good for a future ticket. Those with return flights on other dates will pay half the roundtrip fare. The Holiday Inn Family Suites resort near Walt Disney World in Orlando says it will match the airline's free travel offer by giving away hundreds of two-bedroom suites for the anniversary. -- If more airlines and hotels offered free or discounted travel on Sept. 11, would you travel? -- Do you think there is an increased risk of terrorism for travelers on the Sept. 11 anniversary? Advertisement
