AP: Envoy Says Not All Is Bad in Iraq (cites satellite dishes, cell phones)

[Eugene]

Envoy Says Not All Is Bad in Iraq

By HAMZA HENDAWI
The Associated Press
Tuesday, October 24, 2006; 4:51 PM

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad insisted Tuesday
that things are not all bad in Iraq, citing the growing number of
satellite dishes on rooftops and consumers with cell phones as signs
of economic progress.

"Economically, I see an Iraq every day that I do not think the American
people know about _ where cell phones and satellite dishes, once
forbidden, are now common, where economic reform takes place on a
regular basis, where agricultural production is rising dramatically, and
where the overall economy and the consumer sector is growing," the
American envoy told a Baghdad news conference.

Some Iraqis saw things differently.

"We'd prefer he take those back and return just 10 percent of our prewar
life," said Mohammed Ibrahim, a 50-year-old government employee from
Baghdad. "Saying things like that shows the Americans' contempt for us
Iraqis."

-snip-

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/24/AR2006102400843.html

[niyad]

1. how many iraqis have died? how long is the electricity on each day?

how much was destroyed or looted from the museum? how many building have we blown up? how many unexploded devices are there that are going to maim or kill civilians down the road?

what a load of BULL

[Eugene]

6. The lights went out in Baghdad during the press conference.

GD thread: "Baghdad Bob" moment at press conference today....

Original Huffington Post article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/10/24/blackout-occurs-while-gen_n_32391.html

[Nolo_Contendre]

2. 9/11 was a form of urban renewal

and the attacks created alot of good jobs.

[NewJeffCT]

3. Isn't that what Lieberman said, too?

I'm pretty sure

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. 650,000 dead, but at least the ones who are left have cell phones

and satellite dishes. A fair trade, I'm sure. :sarcasm:

[pinto]

5. Baghdad, a major city of millions has electricity 2-3 hours/day.

That's the benchmark, imo.

[Crunchy Frog]

7. Yeah, like I'd be happy with my family being blown up

if only I could have satellite TV.:crazy: