Bottom lines

---

Click to view caption

Saddam wouldn't mind if Bush was in the same predicaments. Khaled in Al-Watan of Saudi Arabia "No, they're here to fish in troubled waters." Mustafa Hussein in Egypt's daily Al-Akhbar

"I chose not to participate in the referendum. It does not matter if we vote or not. The decision has already been taken. Our votes do not count. The government has fixed the situation." -- Abbas El-Tarabili, Al-Wafd

"What does it mean to call on citizens to boycott the referendum when it is those very people whose opinion is needed when it comes to the issue of electing the president of the republic?" -- Galal Dweidar, Al-Akhbar

"Saddam, who was stripped of humanity and mercy long ago, should not be offended to be stripped of his clothes." -- Ahmed Al-Rubie, Asharq Al-Awsat

"Saddam has always treated his people as laundry to be washed and ironed." -- Fahd Al-Bassem, Al-Rai Al-Aam

"9 August is followed by September, when the settlers will demand another postponement, for who could give back parts of the nation during the month of mercy? After that comes Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkoth. It is never ending, because there is always a holiday or a fast in the Jewish calendar." -- Shamai Leibowitz, www.nfc.co.il