The Iraqi leg of Barack Obama's world tour is now over. And given the unexpected boost from Nouri al-Maliki and the absence of any major gaffes, it's hard to imagine his little day trip having gone much better. (Perhaps a little less stammering in explaining his opposition to the surge in this interview.) So how was it for the Iraqis? Uh, how was what? A compilation of some man-on-the-street quotes gleaned from reportage on Obama's short Iraq adventure suggest an Iraqi populace largely underwhelmed by—if not completely unaware of—Obama's message of hope, change and withdrawal. What could possibly have happened to these people to make them so very jaded and distrustful? Oh, right.

Let's go to the quotes:

• "I couldn't care less if either of them [McCain or Obama] visited Iraq. They [the Americans] practically own this place. They're occupying the country, after all, and besides, they're doing it for their own benefit, not for the Iraqi people."

• "I'm not interested in politics and I don't trust Americans."

• "This [withdrawal] proclamation is a mere political stunt. The American policy would not change with the change in the president, especially the military policy, which is planned by far-sighted commanders."

• "They are all the same—Democrats and Republicans, their agenda is the same, and that is to exert American control all over the world."

• "American policy for Iraq was probably set 20 years ago. So I don't think American forces are going to leave. But maybe small things will change. Obama said on TV that if he wins the election, he will designate $2 billion for Iraqi refugees outside Iraq."

• "Obama is a well-liked person. You feel it when he talks because he's genuine and passionate about what he says— he's not acting. But this visit is just for election publicity, and 16 months [for U.S. combat troop withdrawal] is an exaggeration."

• "Who is Mr Obama? I stopped reading the news after the invasion because it only talks about car bombs and people being killed."