“This closure from the Iranian side will have a bad effect on the economic situation of the

“This closure from the Iranian side will have a bad effect on the economic situation of the Kurdish government and will hurt the civilians as well. We are paying the price of what the Americans have done by arresting the Iranian.”

Jamal Abdullah

A spokesman for the autonomous Kurdish government, on Iran’s decision to close border crossings with northern Iraq to protest the U.S. detention of an Iranian official.

“The president’s stubbornness is like an anchor around the Republican Party.”

Democratic Rep. Al Wynn

Of Maryland, on President Bush’s increasing threat of vetos to constrain the Democratic-controlled Congress.