Iraqis thirst for water and power (Christian Science Monitor)

[deadparrot]

BAGHDAD - This summer, the third since the fall of Baghdad, has been the worst yet when it comes to basic services. Interruptions to electricity and water supplies - caused by both decay and sabotage - are driving up the frustrations of millions of Iraqis.

While last summer public anger was directed at the US government, today it's as likely to be aimed directly at Iraq's interim government and officials.

Last Sunday in the Shiite town of Samawa 150 miles south of Baghdad, protests over joblessness and limited electricity and water supplies turned into a riot outside the governor's office in which about 1,000 residents overturned and burned a police van. The riot ended when police opened fire, killing one.

In a sign of how politically sensitive the matter has become, the rioting saw Shiite Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari rush a delegation of representatives to Samawa the next day. At a hastily convened provincial council meeting in their presence, Gov. Muhammed al-Hassani was then sacked.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20050811/ts_csm/outility

[whistle]

1. Welcome to Occupation Freedom Iraq!

[Kagemusha]

2. Sacked? Was he? I heard he was resisting that,

and resisting with the aid of his own small private army. Or something like that.

Just more fun from that place.

[meganmonkey]

3. What do they need water for?

They already have Freedom!

x(

[soothsayer]

4. Don't worry, Halliburton---and cheney's options---will be just fine.

Take comfort in that, my Iraqi friends.

[arcane1]

5. ah yes, privatizing their water is certainly part of the plan

the bastard :grr:

[Megahurtz]

6. Ah, "Freedom" has it's Price!

:sarcasm:

[Voltaire99]

7. Far worse than under Saddam

The Pentagon shattered Iraqi civil society, Halliburton bled it dry, and the boots on the ground have left a trail of tears.

Ain't "democracy" grand?