“Iraq has continued to ignore the United Nations resolutions and has not acted sincerely. Therefore, I understand and support U.S. action to disarm Iraq.”

— Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi

“At this time, my thoughts and prayers are with the men and women in battle and their families at home. No matter what your views might be, all Americans stand together in support of our troops.”

— Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan.

“I deeply appreciate the men and women in uniform, particularly the Kansans, that are serving in this campaign. The safety of Americans and the liberation of the Iraqi people is on their shoulders. We pray for their safety and success and for their quick return to their families.”

— Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan.

“This war, in short, is tantamount to genocide.”

— Mohammed Al-Douri, Iraq’s ambassador to the United Nations, in one of a string of insults the Iraqi high command hurled at President Bush

“In most parts of the world people are going to hate the United States. But since it has vast economic and military power, I suppose it doesn’t care.”

— Jose Ortiz de Solorzano, a 47-year-old businessman in Madrid, Spain, whose government is supporting the war.

“It’s a wrong war at a wrong time.”

— Sean Bowman, 35, of London

“The reason why the United States takes on so many responsibilities in the world is because others shirk those responsibilities. Those who will not venture out when there is a criminal coming down the street should not complain when somebody else acts as the policeman.”

— Britain’s former Conservative Party leader William Hague

“Today is a dark day for Muslims. My heart is crying for the nation of Iraq. I hope the aggressors will be buried.”

— Sher Aga, 50, who teaches military aviation at the Air Force Academy in Kabul

“The war has begun so we are protesting. We will not sit in class and pretend everything is normal while our government helps carry out this massacre in our name.”

— Sydney (Australia) University activist Simon Butler

“Our government should not have been a party to this conflict which has only undermined the United Nations, our own democracy and the rule of law.”

— Iqbal Sacrani, secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain