Reply #1: so, this is our reputation [View All]

[karynnj]

The Americans, said Zaid Saleem, 26, who works at a market in Baghdad, "are the best in destroying things but they are the worst in rebuilding."

What hurts is that an American I know well has gone to Iraq many many times working to help the Iraqis rebuild. Although he is a liberal Democrat, his wife mentioned he did think of voting for Bush - because (until the debates) he wasn't convinced that Kerry would continue the reconstruction. (amazing knowing that one of these men's word is worth something)

In talking to friends and family, he spoke of how the combination of the sanctions and the war had destroyed the live work of many scientists. When he returned for his second trip, many Iraqis were surprised that he came back - he is a former peace core person who genuinely felt that fixing things was the only way to make the area better. (What is strange is that his views on this may be closer to the man he reluctantly voted for than for all the Democrats who he is completely in awe of.)