I have a few more minutes to answer more completely now.
The article in the July 2001 Iraqi newspaper indicates that America will be hurting on the arm that was hurting. IMO, that means New York and is a reference to the first WTC bombing in '93.
Also, for me anyway, when I think of Frank Sinatra, the only song that comes to mind is New York, New York. If, as an American, that is the song that comes to mind for me, I can well imagine that for foreigners, who would know even less about Sinatra, that is their allusion also.
When I think of Frank, I think of him singing old slave songs about the Jordan....pretty sure everyone in Middle Asia does too..... ;-)