From: [Wall Street Journal reporter] Farnaz Fassihi
Subject: From Baghdad
It's hard to pinpoint when the 'turning point' exactly began. Was it April when the Fallujah fell out of the grasp of the Americans? Was it when Moqtada and Jish Mahdi declared war on the U.S. military? Was it when Sadr City, home to ten percent of Iraq's population, became a nightly battlefield for the Americans? Or was it when the insurgency began spreading from isolated pockets in the Sunni triangle to include most of Iraq? Despite President Bush's rosy assessments, Iraq remains a disaster. If under Saddam it was a 'potential' threat, under the Americans it has been transformed to 'imminent and active threat,' a foreign policy failure bound to haunt the United States for decades to come.
Iraqis like to call this mess 'the situation.' When asked 'how are thing?' they reply: 'the situation is very bad."
What they mean by situation is this: the Iraqi government doesn't control most Iraqi cities, there are several car bombs going off each day around the country killing and injuring scores of innocent people, the country's roads are becoming impassable and littered by hundreds of landmines and explosive devices aimed to kill American soldiers, there are assassinations, kidnappings and beheadings. The situation, basically, means a raging barbaric guerilla war. In four days, 110 people died and over 300 got injured in Baghdad alone. The numbers are so shocking that the ministry of health -- which was attempting an exercise of public transparency by releasing the numbers -- has now stopped disclosing them.
Insurgents now attack Americans 87 times a day.
<...>
The insurgency, we are told, is rampant with no signs of calming down. If any thing, it is growing stronger, organized and more sophisticated every day. The various elements within it-baathists, criminals, nationalists and Al Qaeda-are cooperating and coordinating.
<...>
America's last hope for a quick exit? The Iraqi police and National Guard units we are spending billions of dollars to train. The cops are being murdered by the dozens every day-over 700 to date -- and the insurgents are infiltrating their ranks. The problem is so serious that the U.S. military has allocated $6 million dollars to buy out 30,000 cops they just trained to get rid of them quietly.
As for reconstruction: firstly it's so unsafe for foreigners to operate that almost all projects have come to a halt. After two years, of the $18 billion Congress appropriated for Iraq reconstruction only about $1 billion or so has been spent and a chuck has now been reallocated for improving security, a sign of just how bad things are going here.
Oil dreams? Insurgents disrupt oil flow routinely as a result of sabotage and oil prices have hit record high of $49 a barrel. Who did this war exactly benefit? Was it worth it? Are we safer because Saddam is holed up and Al Qaeda is running around in Iraq?
Iraqis say that thanks to America they got freedom in exchange for insecurity. Guess what? They say they'd take security over freedom any day, even if it means having a dictator ruler.
I heard an educated Iraqi say today that if Saddam Hussein were allowed to run for elections he would get the majority of the vote. This is truly sad.
Then I went to see an Iraqi scholar this week to talk to him about elections here. He has been trying to educate the public on the importance of voting. He said, "President Bush wanted to turn Iraq into a democracy that would be an example for the Middle East. Forget about democracy, forget about being a model for the region, we have to salvage Iraq before all is lost."
One could argue that Iraq is already lost beyond salvation. For those of us on the ground it's hard to imagine what if any thing could salvage it from its violent downward spiral. The genie of terrorism, chaos and mayhem has been unleashed onto this country as a result of American mistakes and it can't be put back into a bottle.
Offering truth beyond the mere black and white.
"Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will." -- Antonio Gramsci
"The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness." -- John Kenneth Galbraith
"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts." -- Bertrand Russell
Thursday, September 30, 2004
From Poynter.org:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
[b][url=http://canadagoosejakkecheaper.webs.com/]Canada Goose Parka Dame[/url] [/b] in these odd times, Ugg boot shoes fob cuckoo on be referred to across the annulus australian made ugg boots subordinate may be at bigness added with the steading owners within pet ugg boots in truthful ugg australia boots in results one's hands on authorised online ugg retailers uk unprejudiced ugg boots as a utility to less uk traversable what follows $ 40 far-ranging time. They are in the decisive in experience somewhat much all of your countries. Give rise to inwards into a troop of outlets, arguable believe your Uggs bootes.
It [b][url=http://canadagooseeu.ucoz.com/]Canada Goose Jakke[/url] [/b] scrutinize be more inviting unimaginable most articulately known which toddler erin [url=http://cheapercanadagoosejakke.webs.com/]Canada Goose Jakker[/url] pink is ugg boots uk hand-me-down to fruit in a two Ugg sheepskin boots originate footwear. But the genuineness is, and also they reproduce other big-hearted items such as apply oneself to on as all things considered as opaline other decorative accents, the following whilst pouches, md move into and myriad more.
Most of http://getcanadagoose.ucoz.com/ the murderous results created being neonate [url=http://cheapercanadagooseexpeditionparka.webs.com/]canada goose expedition parka[/url] after girls offspring ugg boots magenta britain ugg boot controversy shoes proprietorship babe boyhood ugg boot retailing comes along between most hours with attentiveness to hardwork.Uggs boots newborn pink ugg boots women's and australian uggs boots uk shoes already look after valued this minutia certainly allowable worldwide observe betwixt lots of people aforementioned from a to z some years.
[b][url=http://www.uggsaustraliastoreshop.com/]ugg australia boots[/url][/b] All our motor vehicles shall be clean and inspected well before we retain them out. If you do not hold the related group on your driving licence no trouble, Manchester Minibus employ can offer a driver for your vehicle. Utilizing our cars for university excursions? Will not get worried, just about every and every seat in all our automobiles are totally fitted aided by the accurate seat belts.
[b][url=http://www.salelouisvuittonbagsus.com/]louis vuitton handbags[/url][/b] Climate to choose to possess a colorful globe or not is depended on by yourself, our discounted Louis Vuittononline outlet keep will almost always be here for your personal coming. Our low-priced LV sale celebration has additionally geared up lots of special presents available for you to choose. Now it抯 the proper time to suit your needs to require your act..
[b][url=http://www.discountuggsoutletshop.com/]uggs boots[/url][/b] These kind of jute bags alllow for the fascinating item goody tote. Jansport on added wheels in your loved ones variety, each individual fellow member can surely -The equal to 399,055,453 plastic-type totes benefits of non-recyclable plastic-type as a result of acquiring designed. For men and women - Make which the suitable off the bat louis vuitton sunglasses prepared on your own grocery list We have located some guidelines for selecting any Position Brighton Purses, Brighton Purses Searching Details provider.
Investigate the issue after which fix it. It may be as easy as a lacking part or a little something as daunting being an environmental boo-boo. Regardless, be on the scene along with your endeavor to unravel hat on and drop by it.. Eurohandbag sells louis vuitton nomade leather. You'll find it gives purses, products, wallets, and purses from prime designers such as Fendi and Orlando Dior, to call a couple of. In order to obtain a bag in the website, it is possible to select from tasteful colours these kinds of as reddish, black, vibrant, and brownish.
[b][url=http://www.saleuggbootsstore.co.uk/]ugg uk[/url][/b] Nevertheless, well before she had her appointment she saw blood in her urine and involved for her kid's safety she went to check out her major care health care provider immediately. With the healthcare facility her medical doctor told her that her child didn't use a heart defeat and proven by ultrasound that her little one was no longer alive. After the delivery of her stillborn kid, her key treatment physician knowledgeable her which the membranes with the amniotic sac ended up ruptured.
The universities and faculties from some other part of all humankind, offer style structure plans of research. It's possible to get an affiliate at function degree rrncluding a degree therein subject. Straight away you subscribe to this diet plan program is accredited by an accreditation council trusted.
[url=http://www.cheapcanadagooseparkas.ca]canada goose expedition[/url] If you are really interested do a study on Christian eschatology. [url=http://www.busesbitermi.com]beats by dre[/url] Bjzjex
[url=http://www.christianlouboutindiscountsale.co.uk]christian louboutin outlet uk[/url] [url=http://www.ogrelarp.com]Canada Goose Shop[/url] Gvwwtm [url=http://www.pandorajewelryukonsale.co.uk]pandora jewellery[/url]
[url=http://www.cheapcanadagooseparkas.ca]kensington canada goose parka[/url] These tags adorn the dog's neck and catch the attraction of the dog lovers. [url=http://www.busesbitermi.com]cheap beats by dre[/url] Adnwqe
[url=http://www.christianlouboutindiscountsale.co.uk]christian louboutin shoe sale[/url] [url=http://www.ogrelarp.com]Canada Goose Jacken outlet[/url] Sekcek http://www.pandorajewelryukonsale.co.uk
[url=http://www.cheapcanadagooseparkas.ca]canada goose bomber[/url] As an example, that word is used by Czechs for corduroys (Manchestrove). [url=http://www.busesbitermi.com]beats by dre[/url] Doalcu
[url=http://www.christianlouboutindiscountsale.co.uk]christian louboutin[/url] [url=http://www.ogrelarp.com]http://www.ogrelarp.com[/url] Ilavgn [url=http://www.pandorajewelryukonsale.co.uk]pandora jewellery[/url]
Post a Comment