In quotes: War in Iraq

In quotes: War in Iraq

Perspectives on the war vary widely - from the rhetoric of national leaders to the very different views of battlefield soldiers. Here is a selection of some of the most significant comments from the early days of the war.

March 19: The night the war started.

US President George W Bush:

Now that conflict has come, the only way to limit its duration is to apply decisive force. And I assure you, this will not be a campaign of half measures and we will accept no outcome but victory.

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March 20: After the first bombing of Baghdad:

Iraqi President Saddam Hussein:

O great people, O splendid men, the mujahideen of our heroic Armed Forces, O sons of our glorious Arab nation. With the dawn prayer today, the reckless criminal, little Bush, and his henchmen carried out their crime with which they had been threatening Iraq and humanity.

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March 23:

UK Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon:

I do not think [the Iraqi Government] ever believed that we could mount such an effective campaign.

UK Foreign Office minister Mike O'Brien:

All I can tell you is this: that it appears that after the [missile strikes on a location where Saddam Hussein was believed to be holding a meeting] we received information that [he] left the area in an ambulance.

There was some talk that he had been injured, even some suggestion that he had been killed. It seems that that is unlikely - if he was injured, it doesn't appear that it was a serious injury.

It appears that he subsequently appeared on Iraqi TV, but again there are question marks over some of those TV appearances. So in essence we don't know for sure.

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March 24:

Saddam Hussein:

In these battles, and during these decisive days, the aggressors' attempts did not come through planes and missiles, like they did previously in their air attacks. This time, the enemy has sent forward its ground units. The enemy has therefore come to occupy your land.

Captain Patrick Trueman, UK 7th Armoured Brigade:

We always had the idea that everyone in this area hated Saddam. Clearly, there are a number who don't.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan:

The people in Basra may be facing a humanitarian disaster.

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March 25:

Saddam Hussein, in a statement to Iraqi tribesmen:

The enemy has violated your lands, and now they are violating your tribes and families... Don't wait for our orders, just fight them.

Iraqi military spokesman:

Their [US and UK] dreams of a short and easy war have started to evaporate and their hopes of defeating the Iraqi people are being destroyed.

Tony Blair:

In the five days since military action began, a huge amount has already been achieved.

Richard Myers, chairman of US Joint Chiefs of Staff:

In the big scope of things, we're on track, we're on plan. We think we have just the right forces for what we need to do now. We remind people that forces are still flowing to the region.

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March 26:

Geoff Hoon:

The regime has effectively lost control of southern Iraq.

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov:

It is already becoming clear how far removed from reality are their [US and UK] attempts to present military action against Iraq as a triumphant march for the liberation of the Iraqi people.

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March 27:

Tony Blair:

We've seen the reality of Saddam's regime: his thugs prepared to kill their own people, the parading of prisoners of war and now the release of those pictures of executed British soldiers.

George W Bush:

The Iraqi people have got to know... that they will be liberated and Saddam Hussein will be removed, no matter how long it takes.

US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld:

While the conflict is well begun, it has only begun.

Saddam Hussein's regime will be removed. The only thing that remains unclear is precisely how long it will take.

Iraqi Health Minister Omid Medhat Mubarak:

Most of these martyrs and victims are children, women and elderly people who cannot afford to protect themselves... The Americans and the English and their allies are targeting civilians in Iraq, regardless of their age.

US Army Sgt Charles Horgan, who was wounded in Iraq:

There was something wrong with [the people coming towards us]. They appeared jumpy or edgy. One had a rifle, so I turned the turret. I heard a whizzing noise and said to myself, 'Oh my God, I'm going to die.

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March 28:

Chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix:

We ourselves are interested in seeing if the reason for this war - the presumption that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction - is justified or not.

US Lieutenant General William Wallace, who will lead the attack on Baghdad:

The enemy we are fighting is different from the one we'd war gamed. We knew they were there - the paramilitaries - but we didn't know they would fight like this.