In the countless footages from Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and elsewhere, protestors burn American flags. But where do they get the flags?
From a store.
Were I the owner of a retail store in an area that habitually protests by burning American flags, I’d have a boatload of them in stock.
And matches.
eBay. Amazon. Flags R Us.
What makes you think it’s hard to buy a flag?
I guess from the US’ supposed allies.
Except in lots of those places there is little or no Internet access.
In a first world country, I imagine there would be brick-and-mortar flag stores in large cities, just like in the US.
For the Stans, I’ve seldom seen a protest where a standard, professionally made US flag was used. Usually it’s some amateurish, homemade thing with 16 stripes and 43 stars, drawn or painted on a bedsheet. Here’s a few examples:
I’ve seen some that were obviously home-made.
Most I’ve seen were obviously home-made, and badly at that.
Only two countries in the world without Internet access: Myanmar and North Korea, but my info may be out of date and there may be more without it now. The authorities are worried.
Are you under the impression that internet access is required to make a purchase of a product?
Are you under the impression that the production and sale of United States flags is limited to the United States?
Eh, I think its a decent question. Are brick and motor stores in the Palestinian territories or Afghani villages really stocked with American flags? I can’t imagine there’s much demand for them outside of burning purposes, and while maybe its the case, it seems weird for stores to stock an item purely for protests.
And as elmwoods links show, it appears that it is the case that buying a flag is more difficult then making one in at least some cases, as the protesters in those links have obviously gone the latter route.
Maybe the Fox camera crew gives it to them.
Where Do US Flag Burners in the Middle East Get Their Flags
Ultimately China
I’ve been to a lot of backwaters in my day (granted, few of them were in the Middle East, at least not since the first Gulf War), and it’s pretty surprising what people can get a hold of. I’ve seen folks wearing concert tee shirts from the US in some pretty odd places, and seen signs for US products in places where you wouldn’t think they even knew what or where the US is. I don’t think getting a flag would be all that challenging, if someone really wanted one.
That said, I agree with others that say that a lot of times what you see burning are definitely home grown versions. Mind, I’ve never been anywhere that folks were in the process of burning a US flag in protest (not even in the US…just seen pictures), but the materials to make such a flag would be pretty easy to find. And really, if it’s burning, what difference if the thing is bought or home made? The message is in the symbolism, after all.
-XT
There is a vast underground network of smugglers who do nothing but traffic in US flags. Its funded by the CIA. One morning the word will got out: “BURN YOUR US FLAGS!!!” And they will be ignited and all the people holding them will be instantly killed by the toxic fumes the burning flags will produce and we won’t have to worry about the ungrateful wretches any more and we will have made a profit into the bargain. I can barely wait. I wish it was happening now.
France.
Whenever you have a question that involves the USA and people in third world countries do something bad to us, you can bet that the answer is France, except that one time when it was Germany 
From a shop. It is easy to buy most anything in Tehran for example. I once stayed in a hotel in Iran that had a large US flag (4x6 feet or so) hanging upside down behind reception with big black stripes across it. When the young woman at reception saw my US passport upon check-in she was falling over herself apologizing for the “artwork” behind her. I don’t know where they got it, but it certainly was not something homemade. I am sure there are plenty of enterprising shop owners who import them from China as needed.
I can’t find anything that gives the proportion of American flags made in the U.S. versus those made abroad, but everything I’ve read agrees that imported American flags are a large part of the market in the U.S., including this article:
Most of the imported flags are made in China. The flags made domestically are mostly made by privately held companies that don’t release their sales figures.
That’s not true. Over a million internet users in Afgahanistan. Twenty million in Pakistan, and more than that in Iran, at least before the government crackdown.
Internet access in the developing world is exploding, due largely to the proliferation of smartphones.
I once though of a good novelty product – a little American flag (about 3"x5") on a little stick, with a Bic lighter taped to the stick.