Loose cannons

Welcome to the world

"I feel almost duped." — A US official involved in the search for weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in Iraq, frustrated by repeatedly being sent "racing to a series of empty sites", quoted in the Los Angeles Times, June 15.

Little pieces of mass destruction

"Frankly, we expected to find large warehouses full of chemical or biological weapons, or delivery systems. At this point, we're fairly sure we're not going to find a full-up production facility. We're going to find little pieces." — Colonel John Connell, the head of the US "sensitive site teams" looking for WMD in Iraq, quoted in the June 15 LA Times.

Sorry asses

"You call Donald Rumsfeld and tell him our sorry asses are ready to go home." — A US soldier in Iraq, quoted by the New York Times, June 15.

Just like it didn't in Chile

"If [the Iraqis] choose socialism, that will be their business. My guess is that's not going to happen." — Paul Bremer, the White House's Iraq overlord, at a June 13 press conference.

Operation Iraqi Non-Freedom

"Almost unnoticed outside Iraq, the senior US administrator in Iraq, Paul Bremer, has issued a proclamation outlawing any 'gatherings, pronouncements or publications' that call for the return of the Baath party — or for opposition to the US occupation." — The British Guardian, June 16.

Can't imagine why

"They don't appreciate what we did." — A US soldier complaining to Associated Press, June 18, about the hostility of Iraqis to their "liberators".

Operation Infinite Patience?

"I believe that people should be more patient about the discovery of further evidence [of Iraq's alleged WMD]." — Prime Menzies John Howard interviewed on Adelaide radio station 5DN, June 18.

From Green Left Weekly, June 25, 2003.

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From GLW issue 543