# Where Do US Flag Burners in the Middle East Get Their Flags **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 7, 2011, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-us-flag-burners-in-the-middle-east-get-their-flags/581041 "2011-05-07T01:50:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-us-flag-burners-in-the-middle-east-get-their-flags/581041/1 "2011-05-07T01:50:14Z")
In the countless footages from Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and elsewhere, protestors burn American flags. But where do they get the flags? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-us-flag-burners-in-the-middle-east-get-their-flags/581041/2 "2011-05-07T01:56:51Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-us-flag-burners-in-the-middle-east-get-their-flags/581041/3 "2011-05-07T01:57:34Z")
eBay. Amazon. Flags R Us. What makes you think it’s hard to buy a flag? ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-us-flag-burners-in-the-middle-east-get-their-flags/581041/4 "2011-05-07T01:58:01Z")
I guess from the US’ supposed allies. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-us-flag-burners-in-the-middle-east-get-their-flags/581041/5 "2011-05-07T01:58:49Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > eBay. Amazon. Flags R Us. > > What makes you think it’s hard to buy a flag? Except in lots of those places there is little or no Internet access. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-us-flag-burners-in-the-middle-east-get-their-flags/581041/6 "2011-05-07T02:07:34Z")
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: [http://flipfloptimes.com/us-governement-unofficial-postion-burning-the-bible-is-ok-but-burning-the-koran-is-outrageous](http://flipfloptimes.com/us-governement-unofficial-postion-burning-the-bible-is-ok-but-burning-the-koran-is-outrageous) > **[More Koran chaos](https://nypost.com/2011/04/03/more-koran-chaos/)** > > (Reuters)A second day of protests over a pistol-packing preacher’s Koran-burning left at least 10 dead in Afghanistan yesterday. Auto dealer and ex-Giant tackle Brad Benson — who gave t… > **[Pakistani troops fire on U.S. copters at border](https://www.cleveland.com/world/2008/09/pakistani_troops_fire_on_us_co.html)** > > AP Pakistani protesters burn a U.S. flag to condemn the alleged U.S. strikes in Pakistani tribal areas along Afghanistan border, during a rally in Karachi, Pakistan on Tuesday, Sept 23, 2008. KABUL, Afghanistan -- Pakistani soldiers fired at American... > **[Taliban furious over U.S. missile strike](https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/05/taliban-furious-over-us-strike-pakistan/)** > > The Taliban is furious about the latest apparent U.S. missile strike in Pakistan, indicating a senior militant may be among two dozen people killed, officials and residents said Sunday. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-us-flag-burners-in-the-middle-east-get-their-flags/581041/7 "2011-05-07T02:08:00Z")
I’ve seen some that were obviously home-made. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-us-flag-burners-in-the-middle-east-get-their-flags/581041/8 "2011-05-07T02:09:56Z")
Most I’ve seen were obviously home-made, and badly at that. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-us-flag-burners-in-the-middle-east-get-their-flags/581041/9 "2011-05-07T02:23:33Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Except in lots of those places there is little or no Internet access. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-us-flag-burners-in-the-middle-east-get-their-flags/581041/10 "2011-05-07T02:29:09Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Except in lots of those places there is little or no Internet access. 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? ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-us-flag-burners-in-the-middle-east-get-their-flags/581041/11 "2011-05-07T02:35:42Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-us-flag-burners-in-the-middle-east-get-their-flags/581041/12 "2011-05-07T02:38:45Z")
Maybe the Fox camera crew gives it to them. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-us-flag-burners-in-the-middle-east-get-their-flags/581041/13 "2011-05-07T04:50:30Z")
Where Do US Flag Burners in the Middle East Get Their Flags Ultimately China ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-us-flag-burners-in-the-middle-east-get-their-flags/581041/14 "2011-05-07T04:57:21Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-us-flag-burners-in-the-middle-east-get-their-flags/581041/15 "2011-05-07T05:15:43Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-us-flag-burners-in-the-middle-east-get-their-flags/581041/16 "2011-05-07T05:57:55Z")
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 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Desert\_Nomad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desert_nomad/32/177_2.png) [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-us-flag-burners-in-the-middle-east-get-their-flags/581041/17 "2011-05-07T06:53:01Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-us-flag-burners-in-the-middle-east-get-their-flags/581041/18 "2011-05-07T08:46:25Z")
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: > **[HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. and World News](https://www.huffpost.com/?err_code=404&err_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffingtonpost.com%2Fhuff-wires%2F20070703%2Fforeign-flags%2F)** > > Read the latest headlines, news stories, and opinion from Politics, Entertainment, Life, Perspectives, and more. 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. ---
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-us-flag-burners-in-the-middle-east-get-their-flags/581041/19 "2011-05-07T21:17:18Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Except in lots of those places there is little or no Internet access. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-us-flag-burners-in-the-middle-east-get-their-flags/581041/20 "2011-05-07T21:29:41Z")
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. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-us-flag-burners-in-the-middle-east-get-their-flags/581041.md?page=2)