Sunday, April 13, 2003

Quotes from the streets (various countries, various satellite channels):

"The looting is an American conspiracy to allow US to have complete control of Iraq because Iraqis will beg the Americans to sort out law and order" (Lebanese caller).
"All Arab leaders must remove the statues before the Americans come and remove them". (not meant to be complementary to Americans, nor to Arab leaders).
"The Kuwaitis embedded with the US troops and press are encouraging the looters" (Iraqi citizen in Baghdad).
"Saddam the Arab hero will return and sort out the Americans, and restore order to Iraq" (no, this wasn't from Mo Sahaf).
"The US had no right to do go to war. It gave a sovereign leader 48 hours to get out of the country, and then bombed its population when he didn't" (US anti war protester).
"The Kings, Emirs and Sheikhs of the tiny Gulf states have sown the seeds of their own destruction by siding with the American invaders" (angry Palestinian woman).
"The looters can't be locals. Iraqis can never destroy their country. Those looters and anarchists were brought by the coalition to enable them to control the country" (same)
"Who is Ahmed Chalabi? Please make us (asking Al-Jazeera) a documentary about him, because we don't know him" (Jordanian caller).
"Ahmed Chalabi is responsible for looting a couple of banks in Lebanon and Jordan" (Lebanese caller).
"The Iraqis will wake up one day to find that Saddam's hell is a lot better than America's heaven" (Palestinian refugee).
"Arabs should realise that the only way to get rid of their dictatorial leaders is with the help of the Americans" (email from Algerian to Al-Jazeera).
"By fighting this war, we can prevent another 11 September" (US soldier on VOA)
"This war will create 100 bin Ladens, and there will be many 11 Septembers" (several Arab & European academics + an ex-CIA agent)
"We are afraid that we might be next" (Pakistani student, meaning to be attacked by USA)
"Syria could be next" ( anxious Indian student)
"Syria could be next" (excited Arab-American student)
"Iran could be next" (Arab late night TV caller)
"Saudi Arabia could be next" (ditto)
"Long live the Arab system" (no idea what he was talking about)
"This war means the end of the Arab system"
"I want to thank Kuwait and Saudi Arabia for helping the US to get rid of this criminal Saddam" (Iraqi woman in Michigan).
"God will never forgive the Kuwaitis nor the Saudis for what they have done to the Iraqi people" (another Iraqi woman in Michigan).

I guess people believe whatever they want to believe.

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Keep it clean, people!