Yesterday’s rage-inducing propaganda display of murdered Americans made a lot of Palestinians very happy.

There were many smiling faces in Ramallah Monday as Palestinians celebrated the capture of American and British soldiers by the Iraqi army.

“This is a big day for the Iraqi people and all the Arabs and Muslims,” says a mustachioed Palestinian policeman in green uniform at Yasser Arafat’s battered headquarters in the city.

“Everyone here was happy when to see pictures of American soldiers in Iraqi custody. This is a big blow for Bush and Blair. I don’t believe they will be able to continue with the war now that many of their soldiers are being killed or taken prisoner.”

One of his colleagues in Force 17, Arafat’s presidential guard, who is also dressed in a military outfit and carrying a Kalashnikov rifle, says he was so happy when he heard the news of the capture of the US soldiers that “I felt like kissing all the people around me.”

He adds: “Saddam has once again proven that he is a great leader, a defender of Arab rights. His men are brave. They have been able to teach the American and British dogs an unforgettable lesson. The Iraqis are much better at war because they have more experience. The American and British soldiers are cowards and spoiled kids.”

At the Manarah Square in the center of Ramallah, the mood was one of euphoria. “They have just shot down two Apache helicopters,” an excited merchant shouted hysterically as he ran out of his shop. “This is unbelievable. The Americans are losing the war. Iraq is going to be Bush’s Vietnam.”