Iraqis ok new flag that looks less like Israel's

Jerusalem Post ^ | Apr. 29, 2004 | ASSOCIATED PRESS

[yonif]

Iraqi leaders unveiled a new national flag Wednesday after critics said an earlier version resembled Israel's standard.

Governing Council President Massoud Barzani said the flag replaces one used by ousted leader Saddam Hussein -- a red, black and green banner with the words "Allahu Akbar" or "God is great."

The latest design keeps the two blue stripes along the bottom with a yellow stripe between them, as well as a crescent representing Islam centered in a white field.

But the stripes and crescent are a much darker shade of blue, after many said the original light blue stripes looked like the light blue bands on the Israeli flag.

[yonif]

Israel is still "little Satan"

[Monty22]

Whose brilliant idea was it to let them use that demonic symbol on their flag..

[counterpunch]

I disapprove of the crescent moon on the flag at all.
We are trying to create a pluralistic society there that tolerates and accepts all faiths, and exalting Islam above all else does not help one bit.

[philosofy123]

Even Saddam did not put the cresent on the flag.

[VRWCmember]

I disapprove of the crescent moon on the flag at all. We are trying to create a pluralistic society there that tolerates and accepts all faiths, and exalting Islam above all else does not help one bit.

And that pluralistic society would be better served by our dictating to them what can and can't be on their flag, HOW?

[HaveGunWillTravel]

We are at war with radical Islam. Either way, radical Islam is at war with us and all unbelievers. We defeated Iraq. If anything, the flag should show the crescent moon with a knife through it.

[Monty22]

I'm not a Christian, but I'd prefer a cross on it.

[lilylangtree]

Can you imagine the uproar if the our forefathers had put a cross on our flag?????

[counterpunch]

First of all, I didn't say anything about us dictating to them what they can or cannot have on their flag, did I?
I simply registered my own disapproval.

However, with that said, one of the tenants of a free and pluralistic society is protection of the minority.
It is a lesson we here in America had to learn, and are still learning today.

[uglybiker]

If it bugs you that much, then think of it as an outhouse symbol.

It's thier flag. They can put whatever the hell they want on it.

[yonif]

We didn't let the Germans put the Swastika on their flag after the War. I am not saying the crecent = the swastika, but the US should be dicating the type of ideology that will be practiced in the new Iraqi gov. If it doesn't, and just lets the Iraqis go about their former ways of viewing Jews, Israel, Christians, etc. then it is a failure.

[VRWCmember]

First of all, I didn't say anything about us dictating to them what they can or cannot have on their flag, did I?

No, I was directing my comments to you and monty collectively. Monty said something like "whose idea was it to let them put that demonic symbol on the flag?" (emphasis added)

The bottom line is that if we say we are replacing a totalitarian regime with a democratic one, then simple decisions like their flag design should be up to them. A cultural symbol on their flag, representing the predominant culture in their country, is certainly their prerogative.

[Egregious Philbin]

Dictating what they can have on their flag is indeed counter to creating a pluralistic society... but what do we do if Iraqis vote on a flag and the majority prefers the one with the crescent (or any other Islamic symbol)?

[ContemptofCourt]

We didn't let the Germans put the Swastika on their flag after the War. I am not saying the crecent = the swastika, but the US should be dicating the type of ideology that will be practiced in the new Iraqi gov. If it doesn't, and just lets the Iraqis go about their former ways of viewing Jews, Israel, Christians, etc. then it is a failure.

LOL. We are walking on eggshells as it is trying to keep the country together without a civil war.

[Grzegorz 246]

"It's their flag. They can put whatever the hell they want on it."

I agree.

[SedVictaCatoni]

We didn't let the Germans put the Swastika on their flag after the War. I am not saying the crecent = the swastika, but the US should be dicating the type of ideology that will be practiced in the new Iraqi gov.

Why, yes, pretending that the people and culture of Iraq is not predominantly Muslim would be a ripping success, certainly.

[rabidralph]

The governor of South Carolina?

[Grzegorz 246]

"US should be dictating the type of ideology that will be practiced in the new Iraqi gov"

Do you think, that any ideology can be dictated?

[Monty22]

How about an image of the flaming WTC? This thing they have on it now is about as bad.

[yonif]

Why, yes, pretending that the people and culture of Iraq is not predominantly Muslim would be a ripping success, certainly.

I have no problem with that symbol. Its a question of what it will symbolize, what kind of ideology, what kind of interpretation of Islam.