November 2004Just vote“We don't yet know where to vote, or how it is going to be done. Are we going to vote for a leader or for a larger group? What are their names? I don't know.” – Ala'a Jabbar, Baghdad store-owner. Quoted in the ‘Guardian’ after US-appointed officials announced an exercise to elect 275-member national assembly. 21 November 2004.
A widening cycle of extremism“Margaret Hassan is, in our view, a victim of Muslim extremism and American extremism. Had America not engaged in the appalling war crimes of the last 10 days, we would not have seen this kind of revenge killing of Mrs Hassan.” – Daoud Abdullah, assistant secretary-general of Muslim Council of Britain. After the murder of Margaret Hassan, president of CARE International in Iraq, was made public. 16 November 2004.
Tony's trail of blood“As the citizens of Falluja were being bombarded, with the civilian casualties unknown and unrecorded, it is unlikely sympathy would be extended to any westerner in Iraq. Yet again, Tony Blair has blood on his hands.” – Felicity Arbuthnot, who tried to negotiate the release of Margaret Hassan. After the murder of Margaret Hassan, president of CARE International in Iraq, was made public. 16 November 2004.
Saddam's killing barbaric, US killing cool“If Saddam was now in power and decided to launch such an attack against an Iraqi city [as the US attack on Falluja], I wonder what Bush and Allawi would have said about it?” – Sattar Saeed of Baghdad. About the destruction of Falluja, on BBCArabic.com. 14 November 2004.
Forced to fight“I felt like every human being feels when someone comes into their country: sad and terrified. Now we have to fight to change our sadness to happiness.” – Abdullah Janabi, Sunni cleric from Falluja. About the American invasion of Iraq and resistance to it. November 2004.
It's about freedom and dignity“For every weapon there is an opposing weapon. For a Bradley or a tank, a mine blows it to pieces. For a Humvee, a BKC [a Russian machine gun] can put holes in it. Our people are tough and have only small weapons but they can defeat them with skill and pride and dignity. You have to have belief and trust that if you die there is going to be a victory.” – Abdullah Janabi, Sunni cleric from Falluja. About the resistance movement in Iraq. November 2004.
Standing up to the great bully“It is clear that Europe, now more than ever, has the need, the necessity, to strengthen its dynamism and unity when faced with this great world power.” – Jacques Chirac, French President. At a conference EU heads of state, after the re-election of US President George Bush. 5 November 2004.
If he has a conscience“I just hope he can live with himself.” – Martin McArdle, uncle of Pvt Scott McArdle of the Black Watch. After the Black Watch soldier was killed with two comrades in Iraq. 5 November 2004.
The number of the beast“[The Republican Party has] been feeding a monster [the religious right] who now has the party by its tail.” – Jennifer Blei Stockman, co-chair of Republican Majority for Choice. About the Republican pandering to the religious right. November 2004.
Fables for the blinkered“I completely disagree with people who see a need to decide [Falluja] through military action. The coalition's handling of this crisis is wrong. It is like someone firing bullets at his horse's head because a fly landed on it; the horse died and the fly went away.” – Ghazi al Yawar, US-appointed President of Iraq. About the then-imminent US assault on Falluja. 3 November 2004.
No time for climate“Climate change is the greatest threat to our planet, but the Bush administration have completely ignored the situation.” – Norman Baker, UK Liberal Democrat party's environment spokesman. Commenting on the re-election of President Bush. 3 November 2004.
Coolly irresponsible, and a mandate for it“I don't think you can do all of that and still cut the deficit in half in five years…the real economic consequences of such a binge would come after [Bush] leaves office.” – Robert Bixby, executive director of the bipartisan Concord Coalition. About the Republican wish list, which was made public after the re-election President Bush. 3 November 2004.
Upset about the future“I'm pretty upset. This president is arrogant, he doesn't care for the common man and he is reckless. This country will only become more polarised.” – Brad Vernon, Washington DC lawyer. About the outcome of the US presidential election. 3 November 2004.
It's failing states, stupid, not rogue ones“Much of the attention that is paid to nuclear threats has been focused on the three members of the axis of evil: Iran, Iraq and North Korea. However, nuclear attacks in this day and age are much more likely to be the work of terrorists.” – Amitai Etzioni. From ‘Pre-Empting Nuclear Terrorism in a New Global Order’. November 2004.
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