--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This boa, the American columns, are being…" description: "\"This boa, the American columns, are being besieged between Basra and other towns north, west, south and west of Basra… Now even the American command is..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ff/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf-3653_baghdad_this-boa-the-american-columns-are-being_966555.jpg" --- # This boa, the American columns, are being besieged between… ![“This boa, the American columns, are being besieged between Basra and other towns north, west, south and west of Basra… Now even the American command is under siege. We are hitting it from the north, east, south and west. We chase them here and they chase us there. But at the end we are the people…” quote by Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ff/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf-3653_baghdad_this-boa-the-american-columns-are-being_966555.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ff/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf-3653_baghdad_this-boa-the-american-columns-are-being_966555.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ff/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf-3653_baghdad_this-boa-the-american-columns-are-being_966555.jpg) > “This boa, the American columns, are being besieged between Basra and other towns north, west, south and west of Basra… Now even the American command is under siege. We are hitting it from the north, east, south and west. We chase them here and they chase us there. But at the end we are the people who are laying siege to them. And it is not them who are besieging us.” [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker describes a complex situation where both sides are simultaneously attacking and being attacked, highlighting the paradox of being both besieged and besieging. **In simple terms:** Both sides are attacking each other, creating a loop of siege. Key Takeaway Recognize the mutual entanglement and seek de‑escalation. Themes conflict strategy paradox mutual aggression Mood tense reflective Type analytical strategic When to use this quote - urban warfare - political negotiations - humanitarian crises - peace talks Key Concepts siege dynamics reciprocal pressure military tactics Questions to Reflect On - How does this mutual siege affect civilian populations? - What alternatives exist to break the cycle? A Different Perspective The description may oversimplify motives and ignore civilian suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baghdad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baghdad/) [Besieged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/besieged/) [North east](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/north-east/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Siege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/siege/) [Under siege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/under-siege/) ## Related quotes > [This boa, the American columns, are being besieged between Basra and other towns north, west, south and west of Basra. The Americans are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/this-boa-the-american-columns-are-being-besieged-between-basra-and-2/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [How can you lay siege to a whole country? Who is really under siege now? Baghdad cannot be besieged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/how-can-you-lay-siege-to-a-whole-country-who-is-really-under-siege/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [Now even the American command is under siege. We are hitting it from the north, east, south and west. We chase them here and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/now-even-the-american-command-is-under-siege-we-are-hitting-it-from/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [There is no presence of the American columns in the city of Baghdad at all. We besieged them and we killed most of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/there-is-no-presence-of-the-american-columns-in-the-city-of-baghdad/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [Laying siege to enemy-controlled cities allows attacking armies to keep their own casualties low by avoiding urban combat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walid-muallem/laying-siege-to-enemy-controlled-cities-allows-attacking-armies-to/) [Walid Muallem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walid-muallem/) > [So why are we practicing this, anyway?" Percy asked. "Do you guys spend a lot of time laying siege to fortified cities?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/so-why-are-we-practicing-this-anyway-percy-asked-do-you-guys-spend-a/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“When love is roaming in our mind, looping in the deepest fringes of our heart, undreamt spaciousness emerges, repealing the constraints of triviality and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/when-love-is-roaming-in-our-mind-looping-in-the-deepest-fringes-of/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [Their learning is like bread in a besieged town: every man gets a little, but no man gets afull meal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/their-learning-is-like-bread-in-a-besieged-town-every-man-gets-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In my life, I've been both the besieged and the besieged, and I know damned well which I prefer!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-kay-penman/in-my-life-i-ve-been-both-the-besieged-and-the-besieged-and-i-know/) [Sharon Kay Penman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-kay-penman/) > [The disease and its medicine are like two factions in a besieged town; they tear one another to pieces, but both unite against their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-jeffrey-lord-jeffrey/the-disease-and-its-medicine-are-like-two-factions-in-a-besieged-town/) [Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-jeffrey-lord-jeffrey/) > [“When besieged, I’m calm as a baby. When all hell breaks loose, I’m collected and cool.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/when-besieged-i-m-calm-as-a-baby-when-all-hell-breaks-loose-i-m/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [For as a city which has been once besieged and not sacked will ever after be more strong to hold out if it be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-downame/for-as-a-city-which-has-been-once-besieged-and-not-sacked-will-ever/) George Downame > [“If we are blinded by the razzle-dazzle of the limelight and can't even bring a little depth into our story, we must recognize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/if-we-are-blinded-by-the-razzle-dazzle-of-the-limelight-and-can-t/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [“The moonlight whitened the lawn into a wide fitful sea, with the house tall and still in the middle, exposed on every side; besieged.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tana-french/the-moonlight-whitened-the-lawn-into-a-wide-fitful-sea-with-the-house/) [Tana French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tana-french/) > [“I don’t get involved with people because quite frankly most people aren’t worth getting involved with. I don’t need somebody to complete me, be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-p-lovell/i-don-t-get-involved-with-people-because-quite-frankly-most-people/) [L.P. Lovell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-p-lovell/) ## More by Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf > [These mercenaries, I swear by God, those who are still in Washington, they have sent their troops to be burned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/these-mercenaries-i-swear-by-god-those-who-are-still-in-washington/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [The authority of the civil defense ... issued a warning to the civilian population not to pick up any of those pencils because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/the-authority-of-the-civil-defense-issued-a-warning-to-the-civilian/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [The midget, Bush, and that Rumsfeld deserve only to be beaten with shoes by freedom loving people everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/the-midget-bush-and-that-rumsfeld-deserve-only-to-be-beaten-with/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [Search for the truth. I tell you things and I always ask you to verify what I say. I told you yesterday that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/search-for-the-truth-i-tell-you-things-and-i-always-ask-you-to-verify/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [Their casualties and bodies are many. Their equipment and vehicles, several were destroyed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/their-casualties-and-bodies-are-many-their-equipment-and-vehicles/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [The Iraqi troops and the Iraqi fighters are in control of all the places, as we have witnessed, no big change in that. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/the-iraqi-troops-and-the-iraqi-fighters-are-in-control-of-all-the/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [We will get them stuck in the mud and we will certainly defeat them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/we-will-get-them-stuck-in-the-mud-and-we-will-certainly-defeat-them/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [They are going to surrender or be burned in their tanks. They will surrender, it is they who will surrender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/they-are-going-to-surrender-or-be-burned-in-their-tanks-they-will/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [We're giving them a real lesson today. Heavy doesn't accurately describe the level of casualties we have inflicted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/we-re-giving-them-a-real-lesson-today-heavy-doesn-t-accurately/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [Those who ran away are now outside the distant perimeter wall of the airport. Now they're outside the wall and the heroic Republican Guard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/those-who-ran-away-are-now-outside-the-distant-perimeter-wall-of-the/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [We are determined to defeat them and destroy them on the walls of our capital, as we are determined to destroy their miserable armies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/we-are-determined-to-defeat-them-and-destroy-them-on-the-walls-of-our/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [Our initial assessment is that they will all die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/our-initial-assessment-is-that-they-will-all-die/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [Saddam Hussein's soldiers and his great forces gave the Americans a lesson which will not be forgotten by history. Truly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/saddam-hussein-s-soldiers-and-his-great-forces-gave-the-americans-a/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [The time is not yet ripe to say what happened. When history's ready, then we can talk about it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/the-time-is-not-yet-ripe-to-say-what-happened-when-history-s-ready/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [The information was correct, but the interpretation was not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/the-information-was-correct-but-the-interpretation-was-not/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) [Explore all 125 Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) ## More Baghdad quotes > [“I know a feeling like that only comes once in a lifetime, and I think you should follow your heart’s desires. I believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmad-ardalan/i-know-a-feeling-like-that-only-comes-once-in-a-lifetime-and-i-think/) [Ahmad Ardalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmad-ardalan/) > [My dad's Israeli. He was born in Baghdad to Iraqi Jews. Then, at age two, his parents wanted to move to their homeland and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-yamin/my-dad-s-israeli-he-was-born-in-baghdad-to-iraqi-jews-then-at-age-two/) [Elliott Yamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-yamin/) > [Almost immediately, I remember right when Tikrit even fell, a few days after Baghdad fell, there was talks of insurgency, there was talks of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farnaz-fassihi/almost-immediately-i-remember-right-when-tikrit-even-fell-a-few-days/) Farnaz Fassihi > [What is at stake is how to answer the potential threat Iraq represents with the risk of proliferation of WMD. Baghdad's regime did use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-chirac/what-is-at-stake-is-how-to-answer-the-potential-threat-iraq/) [Jacques Chirac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-chirac/) > [Our military superiority is so great - it's far greater than it was in the Gulf War, and the Gulf War was over in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/our-military-superiority-is-so-great-it-s-far-greater-than-it-was-in/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [The authority of the civil defense ... issued a warning to the civilian population not to pick up any of those pencils because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/the-authority-of-the-civil-defense-issued-a-warning-to-the-civilian/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [The mission statement was ordered, and it sent the 800th MP Brigade, effective the first of July, up to Baghdad. I joined my brigade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-karpinski/the-mission-statement-was-ordered-and-it-sent-the-800th-mp-brigade/) [Janis Karpinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-karpinski/) > [The senior officer who met with reporters in Baghdad said there had been 21 car bombings in the capital in May, and 126 in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-lowry/the-senior-officer-who-met-with-reporters-in-baghdad-said-there-had/) [Rich Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-lowry/) > [There are people who haven't faced the reality of what has gone on in Iraq. They still think that the old central state is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-w-galbraith/there-are-people-who-haven-t-faced-the-reality-of-what-has-gone-on-in/) Peter W. Galbraith > [If the U.N. secretary-general withdraws the inspectors from Baghdad ... this means that the secretary-general has abandoned its own responsibility in maintaining peace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naji-sabri/if-the-u-n-secretary-general-withdraws-the-inspectors-from-baghdad/) [Naji Sabri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naji-sabri/) > [I think that were I in the middle of an obsession to write about, say, sudden oak death in California or my grandchildren or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hass/i-think-that-were-i-in-the-middle-of-an-obsession-to-write-about-say/) [Robert Hass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hass/) > [They are going to surrender or be burned in their tanks. They will surrender, it is they who will surrender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/they-are-going-to-surrender-or-be-burned-in-their-tanks-they-will/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [I firmly believed we should not march into Baghdad ...To occupy Iraq would instantly shatter our coalition, turning the whole Arab world against us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/i-firmly-believed-we-should-not-march-into-baghdad-to-occupy-iraq/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [We're giving them a real lesson today. Heavy doesn't accurately describe the level of casualties we have inflicted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/we-re-giving-them-a-real-lesson-today-heavy-doesn-t-accurately/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [I think that we live in a remarkably networked world. The problem with that, of course, is that tensions can travel in nanoseconds across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eboo-patel/i-think-that-we-live-in-a-remarkably-networked-world-the-problem-with/) [Eboo Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eboo-patel/) [Browse all 191 Baghdad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baghdad/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "This boa, the American columns, are being besieged between Basra and other towns north, west, south and west of Basra… Now even the American command is under siege. We are hitting it from the north, east, south and west. We chase them here and they chase us there. But at the end we are the people who are laying siege to them. 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