Compare and contrast the 5 stories or headlines juxtaposed below and decide for yourself if progress is real in Iraq, or if the situation in Iraq is being portrayed as improved for U.S. political purposes including the 2008 U.S. elections. I conclude that United States has screwed Iraq royally, and Iraqis have turned on United States because no real effort at national reconstruction has been made - only a pretense, only a "charade" as Dr. Najib Hanoudi stated in his summation statement on NPR's "On Point" yesterday. American voters are being fooled into believing the situation in Iraq is substantially and sustainably better for the U.S. military and for Iraqis. It is NOT! There is no "good news" coming out of Iraq from ordinary Iraqis. Iraqis do not perceive that they are physically safer or more secure economically. There has been zero politcial progress promised from "the politicial space" provided by the surge. Any pretense of national reconciliation or national reconstruction in Iraq is a cruel joke. Iraqis understand that United States' priority is not their well being but a permanent military presence in Iraq. Iraq will not become a back burner issue for Americans but will remain a searing foggot in our collective consciousness. Iraq is emblematic of the slide toward fascism United States has undergone in recent years.
Iraq food ration system could get cut
Iraq food ration system could get cut
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| By SAMEER N. YACOUB, Associated Press Writer 3:20 am EST Thu 06 Dec 2007 Food rations might have to be cut due to a lack of budget funds, the trade minister said, warning such a move would pose hardship for the majority of Iraqis who depend heavily on the Saddam Hussein-era program. The comments by Trade Minister Abed Falah al-Sudani came as critics have called for the costly system to be revised or eliminated. Two-thirds of the some 26 million Iraqis rely on the rations, al-Sudani said. "Any change in the ration items will create new problems that will add new burdens on families," al-Sudani said in a statement Wednesday. He said his ministry had requested $7 billion for the program in next year's budget but only received $3 billion, a move that could force it to cut the number of items distributed from 10 to five. ~~~cont'd~~~ |
The following are from http://www.IRAQ.net headlines at 4:16 am EST Thu 06 December 2007:
Top US general says no 'victory dances' yet in Iraq (AFP)
The top American general in Iraq, David Petraeus, expressed satisfaction on Thursday at the progress made in Iraq but said the military was still far from any victory dance.
Petraeus cites violence decline in Iraq (AP)
Citing a 60 percent decline in violence in Iraq over the last six months, Gen. David Petraeus said Thursday that maintaining security is easier than establishing it and gives him more flexibility in deploying forces.
Zogby: Iowans, New Hampshirites angry but less focused on Iraq (The Christian Science Monitor)
In Iowa and New Hampshire, where the first contests in the 2008 presidential election season will be held, voters are angry at government, but they are also less preoccupied with US policy in Iraq than in the recent past
The Daily Grind in Iraq
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| NPR's "On Point" Aired: Wednesday, December 05, 2007 10-11AM ET By guest host Jacki Lyden You know the news out of Iraq these days: the surge seems to be working, at least for now. Some refugees are trickling back in. The U.S. military complains that Iraq's politicians aren't doing their part to stabilize the country. Foreign jihadis are on the run. There's still not much oil flowing. To Iraqi citizens these headlines don't exactly ring false -- but they don't really speak to their daily struggles to stay alive and look ahead to when this mess is over. This hour, On Point: On being a civilian in Iraq today. Life? Maybe. Liberty and the pursuit of happiness? You've got to be kidding. Guests · Sarah Sewall, director of the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, she served during the Clinton administration as the first deputy assistant secretary of defense for peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance · Dr. Najib Hanoudi, an Iraqi ophthalmologist and former resident of Baghdad, now residing in the United States · Kristele Younes, an advocate and analyst for Refugees International · Michael Youash, project director for Iraq Sustainable Democracy Project. Click on link above for origianl post which contains link to podcast of this program. Decide for yourself if the situation in Iraq is really better or is being played that way to an American audience. There is no good news coming from ordinary Iraqis. |
