WASHINGTON: The following are some quotes from recent comedy show hosts on US television channels:

“War continues in Iraq. They’re calling it Operation Iraqi Freedom. They were going to call it Operation Iraqi Liberation until they realized that spells ‘OIL.’”—Jay Leno

“CNN said that after the war, there is a plan to divide Iraq into three parts ... regular, premium and unleaded.”—Jay Leno

“The president boasted at the top of his press conference that we have the support now of Britain and Spain for our attack on Iraq. You know, when you want to make it perfectly clear to the world that you’re not an imperialist, the people you want in your corner are Britain and Spain.”—Bill Maher

“President Bush spent last night calling world leaders to support the war with Iraq and it is unreal when the most powerful man on earth is yelling, ‘I know you’re there, pick up, pick up.’”—Craig Kilborn

“CBS news anchor Dan Rather has interviewed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. When asked what it was like to talk to a crazy man, Saddam said, ‘It’s not so bad.’”—Conan O’Brien

“New rumours that Saddam Hussein is planning to flee to a castle in Libya with 10 billion dollars. Now President Bush doesn’t know whether to nuke him or give him a tax cut.”—Craig Kilborn

“President Bush has said that he does not need approval from the UN to wage war, and I’m thinking, well, hell, he didn’t need the approval of the American voters to become president, either.”—David Letterman

“In California, 50 women protested the impending war with Iraq by lying on the ground naked and spelling out the word peace. Right idea, wrong president.”—Jay Leno