April 27, 2004

• Ok, so we know who designed the new Iraqi flag (artist Rifaat al-Shadershi), and we know that it comes from a contest within the Iraqi Governing Council, but what I want to know is: Where did the order for a new flag come from? They don't even have a new government, and already someone's imposing a new flag on them. Who? Why? Why wasn't the new independent government allowed this task as a symbol of its new independence? What designs were rejected?

  All the reportage has been about how the Iraqis hate it. And can you blame them? ("By the way, the stars and stripes are no longer your flag. Now it's a big green field with a blue line down the center representing the Mississippi River. Enjoy or die.") No reportage (that I can see) on the process by which this happened.

  (And the funniest thing about all the reportage is that it talks about 'unveiling' the new flag. Unveiling. A flag.)

  • 10:59 pm
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