A Sampling Of World Opinion

Statement of 41 American Nobel Prize Winners

"The undersigned oppose a preventive war against Iraq without broad international support. Military operations against Iraq may indeed lead to a relatively swift victory in the short term. But war is characterized by surprise, human loss and unintended consequences. Even with a victory, we believe that the medical, economic, environmental, moral, spiritual, political and legal consequences of an American preventive attack on Iraq would undermine, not protect, U.S. security and standing in the world."

Nelson Mandela

"Why does the United States behave so arrogantly? Their friend Israel has got weapons of mass destruction but because it's their ally they won't ask the United Nations to get rid of them. They just want the oil... We must expose this as much as possible.

"It is a tragedy what is happening, what Bush is doing in Iraq. What I am condemning is that one power, with a president who has no foresight, who cannot think properly, is now wanting to plunge the world into a holocaust...lf there is a country which has committed unspeakable atrocities, it is the United States of America...They don't care for human beings."

(Sources: Reuters, Middle East Online, January 30, 2003)

Igor Ivanov

"[The U.S. & Britain] say that the Iraqi people is oppressed by the tyrant, must be liberated and given democracy. And look how they are trying to achieve this goal: by using the most powerful weapons in history. I strongly doubt that democracy can be enforced by the Tomahawk (cruise missiles). If such massive bombardment continues, a humanitarian, economic and environmental catastrophe will become inevitable in the near future, not only in Iraq but in the whole region."

(Source: Russia Journal Daily, March 26, 2003)

Lloyd Axworthy

"Leadership by Canada is not to capitulate to the war fever spawned by a U.S. administration that, in its latest strategic document, wants to exercise 'full spectrum dominance' over the rest of the world and abrogates every treaty and agreement that puts a restraint on its ambition to be the dominant power."

Robert Byrd

"I have watched the events of recent months with a heavy, heavy heart. No more is the image of America one of strong, yet benevolent peacekeeper. The image of America has changed. Around the globe, our friends mistrust us, our word is disputed, our intentions are questioned. Instead of reasoning with those with whom we disagree, we demand obedience or threaten recrimination. Instead of isolating Saddam Hussein, we seem to have isolated ourselves. We proclaim a new doctrine of preemption which is understood by few and feared by many. We say that the United States has the right to turn its firepower on any corner of the globe which might be suspect in the war on terrorism. We assert that right without the sanction of any international body. As a result, the world has become a much more dangerous place."

(Source: Speech on floor of U.S. Senate)

Mahathir Mohamad (Malaysian Prime Minister)

"It is no longer just a war against terrorism. It is in fact a war to dominate the world...the great warriors who press the buttons see nothing of the mangled bodies, the heads and limbs which are torn from disemboweled bodies, the blood and the gore of the innocent people. And because they don't see, the button-pressing warriors and the people who commanded them go back to enjoy a hearty meal, watch TV shows or morale-boosting troop entertainers and then retire to their cosy beds for a good sleep."

(Source: Agence France Presse, February 24, 2003)

Dominique Villepin

"Why smash the instruments that have just proven their effectiveness? Why choose division when our unity and our resolve are leading Iraq to get rid of its weapons of mass destruction? Why should we wish to proceed, at any price, by force when we can succeed peacefully? To those who believe that war would be the quickest way to disarm Iraq, I say it will establish gulfs and create wounds that are long in healing. And how many victims will it bring, how many grieving families?”

(Source: U.N. Security Council Speech, March 7)

Emile Lahoud (Lebanese President)

"We see this aggression today plunging the world into a tunnel where one cannot see the end."

(Source: Agence France Presse, March 21, 2003)