Iraq's U-S-picked leaders approve new flag

[Robbien]

Baghdad, Iraq-AP -- A spokesman for Iraq's Governing Council says it's approved a new flag for the country.
It has a white background, with two blue stripes across the bottom symbolizing the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. A yellow stripe between them represents Iraq's Kurdish minority. Above the stripes is a blue crescent representing Islam.

The spokesman for the council -- selected by the U-S -- says an official declaration of the flag will come later this week.

The council members decided to dump the country's Saddam Hussein-era flag. That one had red, white and black bands with three green stars and the slogan in Arabic, "God is great."

But one Governing Council member says the group should have waited for an elected government before changing such an important national symbol.

http://www.team4news.com/Global/story.asp?S=1814808

[w13rd0]

1. Mistake...

...the flag of Iraq didn't have a picture of Saddam, or his name. They could have come up with some other meaningless symbol. This will be taken as just one more sign that the occupation is one of US imperialism...

[saigon68]

61. THE FIRST VICEROY OF IRAQ-NAM



THE FIRST VICEROY OF IRAQ-NAM

Viceroy Pontius Paul Bremer I

announced that more former members of Saddam's military would be allowed to join the ranks of the new US-trained army because of the poor performance of the Iraqi forces during rebel attacks.(AFP/Pool/File/Damir Sagolj)



His hand picked puppet government in April in the Year of our Lord 2004, created a new flag for the 51st State of the AmeriKan States of North AmeriKa NA

[leftchick]

2. what a waste of time, energy and our tax dollars...

I am sure the Iraqis will embrace a flag designed by the US puppet IGC. :eyes:

[Elbowroom]

3. THE YELLOW STRIPE

REPRESENTS THE AREA BETWEEN THE TWO RIVERS THAT THE U.S. HAS PISSED ALL OVER, NOT THE KURDISH MINORITY.

[Vladimir]

4. Am I the only one

who finds the blue on white unusual for the Middle East? Other than (obviously) Israel, are there any other Middle Eastern flags with blue as a major colour on them?

[THUNDER HANDS]

9. yeah it does seem odd

other than the yellow, it's basically Israel's colors.

[Tinoire]

13. No... I posted a picture of it below.

This is only adding additional insult to an already deep injury.

[Vladimir]

21. I don't know what to think

I am extremely reluctant - as always - to claim Israel as a motivation for something, but at the same time the visual parralels are undeniable. It is to me beyond belief that none of the flag's designers saw it... what the hell is this playing at? If I remember that survey correctly, when asked which country they didn't want involved in rebuilding Iraq 80% of Iraqis said Israel. If the designers really missed the parallel... I don't see how its possible.

[Ilsa]

27. It was the only flag

I could think of that resembled this "new" design.

The spokesman for the council -- selected by the U-S -- says an official declaration of the flag will come later this week.

At first I thought it said "an official desecration of the flag will come later this week."

[Tinoire]

54. Me too!

Desecration was what I thought I read the first time.

Well, it may not be official but they will certainly desecrate it and spit on it.

Can't say I blame them either.

What an EVIL thing to do.

[Tinoire]

55. Vladimir

I see only 2 possibilities and these I've consistently seen from the beginning.

1. Sharon and the neo-cons WANT this war, WANT the Arab world to know who is coming after Amelek, want the coming war between Gog and Magog.

2. Bush and certain double-dealing members of his entourage are deliberately setting up the Jewish people to take the blame when all of this goes badly.

#2 has been the biggest fear of many of my Jewish friends.

There is no way in hell they've missed any of the numerous parallels; this is why when Rabbu Hertzberg says that Bush and Sharon will fry in hell, I side with him totally and truly pity the blind people who don't understand what evil they support when they support, apologize for, or excuse those 2.

Those are 2 of the most evil, EVIL men of modern times. They would both sacrifice thousands of their own for their greed.

[wtmusic]

22. OK, but renaming Iraq 'Gaza East' is OUT of the question

:crazy:

[Ediacara]

33. Some Central Asian countries do

Uzbekistan:

Qazaqstan:


Although I agree, for the Middle East Proper, it is a little strange as almost ALL Middle Eastern flags are some cobination of red, white, black, and green

[greenleaf]

59. True

however those aren't Arab countries.

[0007]

5. Did Paul Bremer's wife do the sewing? - working on the new song is next

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

51. Flagpole lovingly carved from cherrywood?

Cost: One silver dollar?

[tridim]

6. I'm guessing *'s flag idea

was the American flag with the field of stars removed and replaced with a single spurting oil Derrick (more to be added as we invade other mid-east oil producing countries).

[Tinoire]

7. Bwahahaha!

Let me guess, Laura bought Dubya a box of crayons this week-end and he had nothing better to do than to draw up a new flag for them?

What an utterly repugnant act.

[liarliartieonfire]

8. What? No picture of george standing knee deep in rose petals?

george & dick's faces encircled with oil rigs??

[PfcHammer]

10. this is in fact a state flag. 1 additional star for the US flag to follow

[Tinoire]

11. Just saw the flag. This is really not good.

What country in the Middle East does this flag remind you of?

The Iraqis are not going to take this lying down.

StupidEvil neo-cons.

[THUNDER HANDS]

17. that's an ugly flag too

The blue bars should be at the top and bottom and the entire middle should be gold with the blue crescent in the middle.

I mean, jeez, just make it look nice at least.

[SoFlaJet]

20. The yellow stripe

represents the same one that runs down the back of republican war heroes like Bush,Cheney Delay and the rest of the chicken hawks who like to send people like my brother to fight their wars and take their bullets

[Paschall]

31. The blue is very Nicarauga or El Salvador

I guess that will make Negroponte feel right at home.

But why a blue crescent? No other Muslim nation with a crescent on its flag has a blue crescent.

Interesting short article here on the Ottoman origin of the crescent (and star, which is "missing" from this design): http://islam.about.com/library/weekly/aa060401a.htm

[Ediacara]

35. Honestly, it most resembles the flag of Northern Cyprus

Although... Israel's flag is sort of similar:

[Vladimir]

37. But that flag is red on white n/t

[Ediacara]

40. it sure is

The question asked however, was what Middle Eastern country's flag does it resemble. I say it resemble's Northern Cyprus's most, although Uzbekistan's is also pretty similar, as is Israel's. Shapes and design elements count as much as color do they not?

[Vladimir]

44. In my view

The colour of a flag is its most immediately striking quality. This is obviously subjective, but when I see a flag, I notice the colours first, and then the design/shapes. But I agree, it is very similar to the Turkish Cypriot flag in terms of the design.

[muriel_volestrangler]

53. talking of flag similarities

did anyone hear that Chad and Romania have finally worked out their flags are a bit too similar?

Call to UN as Chad and Romania keep same flag flying

Chad:


Romania:

[Ediacara]

56. Hehehe what about

Indonesia:

and Monoco:

[Lisa]

58. and don't forget Poland!

http://www.flags.net/POLA.htm

[jtb33]

52. Speaking from a design perspective...

It just looks "lopsided" IMHO...

[htuttle]

57. You're right, but if they would have balanced the design...

...it would have been nearly identical to Israel's flag, merely substituting the Crescent for the Star of David.

Maybe they thought that this design would not be so obvious.

:shrug:

[SoCalDem]

12. I m surprised that they passed on this one

[wtmusic]

16. LOL they really should have consulted us first!

:thumbsup:

[wtmusic]

14. They didn't even CONSIDER my nomination!

[Cocoa]

15. these flags will be collectors items

the Bremer-era Iraqi flag is doomed. They will be used mostly to burn in public.

[Gothmog]

18. This is only the latest in stupidity from Bush

Why change the flag now? This is only going to increase tensions in Iraq.

[denverbill]

19. What a fucking stupid thing to do.

For GOD'S sake, let Iraqis elect their own damned leaders before making any important decisions.

[Jacobin]

23. Here's Israel's flag

Ahem, this is some sick joke.

[arcane1]

24. and what exactly is the POINT of this?????

Iraq is still a country, right? Why do they need a new flag? Shouldn't that be something they come up with themselves, after THEY decide to do it?

can you imagine the reaction our flag-fetishists would have if a new Dem prez tried to change the flag???

this is a stupid idea, though I bet the fundies are weak-kneed with joy over it

[Minstrel Boy]

25. This is the mindset that burned libraries and sacked museums.

Iraq, Year Zero.

Fuck your proud history. Here's your flag, and respect your masters.

[AJ BENDER]

26. Mission Accomplished !

A flag was designed...Oh Glorious Day !

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :toast:

Can we go home now ?

[Barkley]

46. Quagmire Accomplished

We've changed their currency, now their flag.

What's next?

A new national anthem?

English as the official language?

Forced conversions to Christianity?

I can't wait to see how we re-write their history books.

Oh, no we can't leave just yet cause we've got to 'finish the job'.

Remember:
Red, White and Blue: THESE COLORS DON'T RUN!

... the world.

[floda]

28. they even removed the Islamic "God is great" slogan from the flag

not very wise to that in a country full of Muslims

[LittleApple81]

29. Dumb. Stupid. Waste or time. Waste of money. n/t

[Aidoneus]

30. Their masters are bombing and murdering people all over Iraq

And they put out a fucking flag? These shameless puppets have absurd priorities. I hope they haven't spent the last thirty years designing that.

[BiggJawn]

32. What? no US flag in the corner?

Like most former Crown Colonies with the Union Jack in the corner of their banners?

[htuttle]

34. It reminds me of a picture of a boot stomping on a human face...

...forever.

:shrug:

[PurityOfEssence]

38. By George, I think you've got it...

(Orwell, that is...)

[cliss]

36. Will it have

stars & stripes on it?

[joanski01]

39. What an insulting thing to do

to the people of Iraq. Bush* and his people are stupid, stupid, stupid. Invade their country and then shove a new flag down their throats. It really angers me, so I can't imagine what it will do to the Iraqi's.

[JCMach1]

41. Here it is

Yet another thing to piss off the Iraqis... This will not last...

It will be a reviled sign of the occupation...

[JCMach1]

43. This is the flag of BUSHISTAN, not Iraq

It will never fly!

[MallRat]

42. Did they go out of their way...

..to ensure that no red, green, or black was in the new Iraqi flag?

Such a brazen departure from the traditions of other Islamic countries in the Middle East pretty much epitomizes our "hearts and minds" campaign, doesn't it?

The US is making a big statement here. I'm not sure I like it.

-MR

[JCMach1]

45. they intentionally left out the colors of pan-Arab nationalism

[derby378]

47. Remember when people actually TRIED to make flags look nice?

What a dorky design. I guess it's supposed to reflect their "pacified" status. My guess is that when Iraq finally gains independence, they'll scrap this color scheme.

Seems like I remember Vietnam was once called "Annam," which translates roughly into "The Pacified South," to reflect its puppet status under Chinese rule during the European Renaissance. Am I wrong here?

[KTM]

64. Milk & Cheese !

Yay ! :bounce:

[Rochambeau]

48. They should start with printing it on

toilet paper, this is the way the iraqis will use the Bushistan flag anyway....

[daleo]

49. Rally round the flag, in reverse

In keeping with Bushco's reverse bizzaro world, this will be a great rallying point for Iraqi nationalism. I expect Spock with the goatee will pronounce the new flag as "fascinating".

[yardwork]

50. I wonder how much money we paid some contractor

to develop this sorry excuse of a design?

Some subsidiary of Halliburton probably got millions - no exaggeration - to copy the most hated flag in the Arab world.

The stupidity of the Chimp's regime is exceeded only by its greed.

[robertpaulsen]

60. What a wonderful present to get on Israel's 56th birthday!

The stupidity behind the timing of this decision is astounding.

[rocktivity]

62. At least the council isn't wasting time on unimportant matters

like restoring water and electricity.

:headbang:
rock

[cornfedyank]

63. another case of cultural ignorance

taking off the stuff saddam put on is one thing, but changing the basic colors and design is stupid.

[Oilwellian]

65. Here's their old flag

Flag Description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with three green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; the phrase ALLAHU AKBAR (God is Great) in green Arabic script - Allahu to the right of the middle star and Akbar to the left of the middle star - was added in January 1991 during the Persian Gulf crisis; similar to the flag of Syria which has two stars but no script and the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt which has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band