Newsweek asks "Is it really that bad in Iraq?"

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

Dog Days of Summer
Reporter’s notebook: Amid explosions, suicide bombers and oppressive heat, an optimist reaches his breaking point.

By Joe Cochrane
Newsweek

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8596940/site/newsweek/

The optimist in me says the U.S. will eventually train up the Iraqi army and police to the point where they can fight the insurgents alone, keep the country stable enough for the government to govern, to hold elections, pass laws, recover from economic sanctions and war, and move toward democracy. These are long-term goals, but it’s difficult to imagine they’re reachable when a prominent business inside the Green Zone is a carwash that specializes in detail work on tanks.

Is it really that bad in Iraq? It’s hard to say because the international media cannot adequately cover the war and Iraq’s reconstruction because it’s simply too dangerous. I would love to write about new schools being built and local village leaders learning about democracy, but I can’t go out to see such things. Maybe that’s why American friends who’ve never even been to Iraq—or read a book about the country for that matter—tell me I don’t know what I’m talking about when I say things are so bad.

Say what you will about whether the United States was justified to invade this country. We’re well into the game, and it’s too late to argue over who got the ball first. But prior to April 2003, there were no suicide bombers in Baghdad, there was 24-hour electricity and people went out at night. Now, if you drive into town from the airport, there is a legitimate possibility you will get killed. How long can the insurgents keep it up? Who knows, but they haven’t let the dust and heat of summertime Iraq stop them. Let’s just say that the insurgency doesn’t take the day off because of weather conditions.

Danger aside, it’s always interesting being here. Not to mention amusing and tragic. I met an American journalist for Knight Ridder Saturday in the Green Zone who’s bravely dealing with a U.S. military investigation into the death of her Iraqi colleague last month, who was apparently killed by an American sniper. Minutes later, I had a U.S. soldier telling me about a Mickey Mouse Persian rug he mailed home for his daughter’s bedroom. He then offered to help me buy my own rug, though I’m partial to Tweety Bird. For better or for worse, historic changes are afoot here, and will be for some time. The final outcome in Iraq could have a bearing on the fight against terrorism, Middle East politics and even the future of democracy. That alone is worth being here to watch—if it’s not too dangerous to take a look.

[Lindacooks]

1. The question is answered in the article.

"Is it really that bad in Iraq? It’s hard to say because the international media cannot adequately cover the war and Iraq’s reconstruction because it’s simply too dangerous."

DUH, yes, it's that bad, if you can't cover the situation!!

[TahitiNut]

6. Well, if they can't make coffins fast enough to bury the dead ...

... it doesn't take a rocket scientist to get the hint things ain't going too well. Assholes! :grr:

[rwheeler31]

2. yes and getting ugly.

nt

[snowbear]

3. Even uglier than that picture of Bush!

And ohhhh man, is that one ugly mug shot of him!

[dArKeR]

4. Was this pic of aWol tuned or is that original 35 years alcohol/coke

schizophrenia?

[liberalfriend]

9. well yes

but he is almost 60 and as a young person let me be blunt and say that is no spring chicken age. That's right he's old and if you don't think so your probably an old fart too! What ya gonna do, huh? Gum me to death? HAHAHAHAHA... so old.

Just kidding that really isn't that old but 20 to thirty some-odd years of snorting, drinking and smoking will work its magic on you...hence that picture.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

10. That's an unretouched pic of Bush on a really, really bad day.

If he's not high in that pic, then a frog's ass ain't watertight.

:evilgrin:

[still_one]

5. LOL, what a joke

it is to dangerous to go out so we can't tell you how well things are going

"The final outcome in Iraq could have a bearing on the fight against terrorism, Middle East politics and even the future of democracy."

You don't have to wait. Because of this LIE, not because it was justified we have NOW increased terrorism, probably caused Iraq to go into a civil war, and eventually be a Shiite theocracy

The killing stopped in Viet Nam when we left

Remember that

Anyone wonder who will be the last American to die for this mistake?

[goodhue]

7. yes

http://raedinthemiddle.blogspot.com/

http://secretsinbaghdad.blogspot.com/

http://afamilyinbaghdad.blogspot.com/

http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/

[cap]

8. In Vietnam, the press was never so restricted

it never was that dangerous to be in country. Newsmen walked the streets of Saigon and went to the villages.

[Old and In the Way]

11. So why not open up Iraq and let the press in to report how great

things are? The RW complains that we are only reporting on the "badness"...truth is, no one can go in and make a nuetral assessment. I think it's a hellava lot worse than the cheerleaders in the corporate media are telling us...

[Disturbed]

12. If things are so great let's see Shrub and his Cabal..

walk down the main street in Baghdad without double kevlar.