Letter From Baghdad.

[bemildred]

I like this a lot because it expresses what I believe
will be seen as one of the most important factors in the
development of the situation in Iraq, the fact that there
is no one running things, it is a descent into chaos, and
there is no way to predict what will happen.

What is happening here right now --- the incompetence of the U.S. occupying force -- is almost a separate story. A much easier story. Make no mistake, the United States is currently bumbling, turning the Iraqi people against it with its bullheaded moves. Yes, the Americans may be handing out soccer balls to Eye-raqi children and building water treatment plants. No, they're not getting haircuts at Iraqi barbershops or interacting with Iraqis in any meaningful way. The American soldiers hide behind their barbed wire and concrete barriers and seethe at the Iraqis as they munch on their MREs and dream of home. None of the non-coms wants to be here, even though the commissioned officers see it as a great career boosters. The average soldier has grown increasingly rude and hostile toward the locals. For example every Iraqi kid knows how to say "Get the fuck away!" in perfect English. That's just wrong.

GNN