(was somebody saying we haven't done any good in Iraq??)

VOICES OF FREEDOM

“The pictures of Saddam Hussein have been stripped from the yellowing walls of Baghdad’s cafes where men still getting used to the idea of life without his regime sit and discuss the ‘New Iraq.’”

Agence France Presse, 6/27/03

“A thousand thanks to Bush! A thousand thanks to Bush’s mother for giving birth to him!”
Abdel Karim Hassan, in Basra,

The New York Times, 6/27/03

“I’d like to make a statue in gold of President Bush.”
Abid Ali, whose ear was amputated by the regime,

The New York Times, 6/27/03

“Iraqis are enthusiastically embracing the possibilities of a free media after years of heavy censorship. Alongside these do-it-yourself radio and TV stations, dozens of newspapers representing every kind of political viewpoint are suddenly available.”

BBC, 6/27/03

“[Sami] Qaftan said he is preparing an Iraqi version of the 1960 drama ‘The Confused Sultan,’ by Egyptian author Toufic al-Hakim. The story revolves around a leader who is given a choice between using the rule of law or the sword to prevent his people from criticizing him. Qaftan said the play’s obvious parallels to Saddam Hussein’s regime made it impossible to stage until now.”

Associated Press, 6/25/03

“It gives me an immense sense of hope. Being here and seeing so many other people here signifies that, despite everything, life goes on.”
Shafeeq al-Mahdi, an Iraqi playwright at a performance at the al-Rashid Theater in Baghdad,

Associated Press, 6/25/03

“Liberated from 35 years of stilted official TV glorifying Saddam Hussein, Iraqis are snatching up satellite dishes by the thousands. Cartoons, fitness programs, movies and commercials are flooding into Iraqi living rooms. These days, in fact, when a favorite show comes on, Iraqis on rooftops yell to neighbors to alert them.”

Associated Press, 6/25/03

“We’re like the blind who have been offered the gift of sight.”
Mahabat Ahmad, an Iraqi who recently acquired satellite television,

Associated Press, 6/25/03

“They’re buying them [satellites] like they buy bread. They say they’re buying freedom.”
Mohammed al-Mulla, a worker at an Iraqi electronics store,

Associated Press, 6/25/03

“They [the news staff] never had a chance to do their own stories. There was no room for creativity.” Ahmad al-Rikaby of the Iraqi Media Network,

Associated Press, 6/25/03

“Iraqis are emerging from decades in which all information was used as a mechanism of control. With official news sources tightly managed by Hussein's son, the Mukhabarat, or secret police, monitored and disseminated jokes and rumors using agents from its legendary Fifth Squad.”

The Boston Globe, 6/25/03

“I couldn’t show it to people in the past because of the regime. Now I hang it up to show respect.”
Abbas Fadel, who displays a picture of his brother, tortured and murdered by Saddam,

Knight Ridder, 6/24/03

“Please, find out all of Saddam’s crimes and let the whole world know about the reality of Saddam. He is the evilest man that I ever saw.”
Basima Hamid, whose husband was hanged by Saddam for studying to be a sheik,

Knight Ridder, 6/24/03