"Today, the Iraqi citizen sees that America is coming and wants to occupy his country and kill him, and he is willing to experience for himself what happened in Palestine"

This quote by Bashar al-Assad speaks to the worry and mistrust that the Iraqi people have towards the United States. It suggests that the Iraqi individuals believe that the US is coming to their country with the objective of occupying it and eliminating them, similar to what took place in Palestine. This suggests that the Iraqi individuals understand the United States's history of military intervention in the Middle East and are fearful of the very same happening to them. The quote likewise recommends that the Iraqi people are willing to combat for their freedom and resist United States occupation, no matter the cost. This quote speaks to the deep-seated mistrust and fear that the Iraqi people have towards the US and its objectives in the area. It is a reminder of the US's history of military intervention in the Middle East and the effects that include it.