[Scoop]

How odd that Iraqi's are using a south London colloquialism ('Wankers').

Next thing you know they'll be calling Saddam a pantywaist.

[Aquinasfan]

How odd that Iraqi's are using a south London colloquialism ('Wankers').

A theory. I met a Polish woman who used the word "milliard" instead of "billion" because she learned British English. Could be that an Iraqi learned some colloquialisms in England. Either that or some British troops helped them out ;-)

[Right Wing Professor]

'Wanker' probably originated in London, but it was in widespread use in Dublin by the 1960s, when I was growing up there. Great descriptive terms get taken over by everyone.

[Robert A Cook PE]

I think I've fingured it out:

There were reliable stories of a BRITISH couple - BOTH "Human Shields" - who were yelling at the US Marines who had just entered the mall, freeing the Iraqi's.

The sign's letters "HUMAN SHIELD" are PRE-PRINTED (commercial art!) that an Iraqi couldn't do easily, but would be essential IF an Human Shield group wanted to "protect" themselves against US fire --- by hanging it outside a window, or by laying it on a rooftop, for example.

So, we've established that a couple of BRITISH liberals who hate Americans ARE present, would likely HAVE A SIGN with Human Shield printed on it; and who have already that morning been yelling at the troops and giving them verbal abuse.

Isn't it reasonable that THE BRIT's would hurriedly markup their own sign with BRITISH epithets and insults to the Americans, then take it the the mall to "protest?"

Further, an Iraqi citizen is not likely to know English, take it from the Brtit's (after they dropped it?), and then walk around showing off the sign - without realizing he's insulting the HUMANSHIELDS, not the Marines?