Loose Cannons

Know who they're fighting for

"My first reaction when I saw it was this was not a political statement in any way by the men and women of 101st. I think the 101st was being pretty creative and naming things after what reminds them of home. And I think that's pretty neat." — ExxonMobil spokesperson Tom Cirigliano, quoted in March 27 New York Times, commenting on media reports that the US Army's 101st Airborne Division had named one of its central Iraqi outposts Forward Operating Base Exxon.

To the victors, the spoils!

"The problem ... is if you go down the UN route, that means you go to the world to get the best price. They have to go anywhere to get the best price, which is ... morally awful." — Stuart Doughty, CEO of Costain Group, Britain's largest construction corporation, explaining to Reuters why he opposes placing the reconstruction of post-war Iraq under UN control.

One rule for the Iraqi resistance ...

"We're fighting an enemy that knows no rules of war, that will wear civilian uniforms..." — George "The Crusader" Bush, March 25.

... and a different one for Bush's crusaders

"The Pentagon on Friday defended the use of some civilian clothes by US special operations forces, a tactic used to help them blend in with the local population." — Associated Press report, April 4.

Military intelligence

"[Pentagon] planners have been working for months to define victory and, as one said, 'figure out what it looks like when we see it'." — Washington Post, April 4.

From Green Left Weekly, April 9, 2003.

Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

From GLW issue 533