[Mb-civic] Quote of the Month

[Ian]

>From a Thomas Friedman column in the Times:

"A delegation of Iraqi judges and journalists abruptly left the U.S. today, cutting short its visit to study the workings of American democracy.  A...spokesman said the Iraqis were 'bewildered' by some of the behavior of the Bush administration and felt it was best to limit their exposure to the U.S. system at this time, when Iraq is taking its first baby steps toward democracy.  The lead Iraqi delegate...said that he was stunned when he heard President Bush [saying that one reason [to] support Harriet Meiers...was because of 'her religion.'...[The spokesman] said that after two years of being lectured by U.S. diplomats...about the need to separate 'mosque from state'...he was floored...[He said] "How would you feel if you picked up your newspapers next week and read that the president of Iraq justified the appointment of an Iraqi Supreme Court justice by telling Iraqis 'Don't pay attention to his lack of legal expertise.  Pay attention to the fact that he is a Muslim fundamentalist and prays at a Saudi-funded Wahhabi mosque?'  Is that the Iraq you sent your sons to build and die for?"
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