Americans raise hackles by flying Stars and Stripes in Iraq

The Guardian ^ | Saturday March 22, 2003 | Nicholas Watt

[vannrox]

American marines swept aside Iraqi sensibilities yesterday to raise the Stars and Stripes at the entrance to Iraq's main port of Umm Qasr. In a move condemned by MPs as crass, the marines replaced the Iraqi flag in an attempt to recreate the iconic image of the US flag being raised over the Pacific island of Iwo Jima in the second world war.

Geoff Hoon, the defence secretary, promised to pass on British concerns about the raising of the flag, which undermined allied claims that they were liberating, not conquering, Iraq.

His remarks came after Crispin Blunt, a Tory MP who served in the first Gulf war, said: "It would be singularly unfortunate if the Stars and Stripes was, for example, planted over the parliament building in Baghdad at a future stage."

Promising to raise the matter with the US authorities, Mr Hoon attempted to calm waters by saying: "It is necessary to understand how, at the end of what was a vigorous confrontation, any soldiers are likely to feel the need to demonstrate their success, which I suspect is what happened overnight."

Britain underlined its determination to respect Iraqi sovereignty by warning its troops not to wave the union flag. Addressing 1 Battalion the Irish Guards this week, Lieutenant Colonel Tim Collins said: "We go to liberate, not to conquer."

The Americans later replaced the Iraqi flag in Umm Qasr.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Good idea. What does "Saddam's" flag say on it?

[Trailerpark Badass]

The longer this goes on, the more I will be convinced that half the world has quietly gone insane.

[Ole Okie]

What? Our guys don't get to do a dance in the end zone?

[gaucho]

The takbir

The takbir [Allah Akbar (God is great) in Arabic script] in green was added to the 1963 flag during the Gulf War, 13 January1991.

The arabic text may be read from right to left on both sides of the flag, which are identical.

http://flagspot.net/flags/iq.html

[Illbay]

Do you have any idea what the "writing" says?

[Illbay]

FWIW, an American consulate is considered "U.S. soil."

[GreenLanternCorps]

There is an exception to this rule, in time of war, when one nation scores a victory over another nation, you often fly the flag of the victor over the flag of the loser.

This is most often done when a ship of one nation captures a ship of it's enemy.

See the below link for a photo of DKM U505 after her capture by USN Task Group 22.3

[GreenLanternCorps]

Oops,

here is the link:

http://www.msichicago.org/exhibit/U505/history3.html

[gaucho]

Do you have any idea what the "writing" says?

God Is Great.

[JeeperFreeper]

Happened at Hue City, RVN in '68, too.

[BaBaStooey]

I've seen the Stars and Stripes flying below the Canadian flag when I make trips to Canada.

[nebulas]

Except Texas' flag. We fly at the same height.

[vishnu2]

Actually, it might be most appropriate to replace the flag of Iraq with the flag of Texas.