Baghdad: Where no one is safe

[NNN0LHI]

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/04/12/perry.btsc.baghdad/

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The Iraqi capital is seething with confusion.

Murder, assassination and kidnapping are the words of the day. Blast walls rule all. Security is the growth industry in a city ravaged by bloodshed.

From the rooftop of CNN's bureau, tracer fire rises over Baghdad's Sadr City on a nightly basis. More than 2 million people live in the poor neighborhood, which is run by militia loyal to Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

His followers are well-armed and as loyal as they come. These are the men who control the streets; they decide who comes and who goes through this section of the city. They answer only to the cleric, not the Iraqi security forces or American troops. snip

Bodies are found every day, all over Baghdad. Dozens. Sometimes scores. Some are bound, tortured and beheaded. Others are simply shot, execution-style. The spiral continues, and no one knows what the sunrise in Baghdad will bring tomorrow, next week or next month.

[steve2470]

1. No civil war in Iraq, no siree nt

[Robbien]

2. After catching up on Riverbend's blog

I would say this article is sugar-coating how bad it it.

For instance she says the Iraqi security forces ARE one of the thug groups roaming the streets and kidnapping Iraqis for ransom. If one is in trouble there is no one to call to help except family and friends.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

3. She hasn't posted since the 2nd...

I always start to worry about her if it's been longer than a week. :(

[Robbien]

6. Me too

I've been away from the net for about six months and spent some time this afternoon catching up on Riverbend. So much is changed in her world and her attitude during that time.

By the way Vivi_La_Revolution one of the things I missed while away was your BookSpan reports. Happy to come back and see you still reporting on the schedule. Thanks again.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

7. Thank you

for the appreciation. :) I'm glad you're back. You have a lot to catch up on. :o


Book TV Schedule - April 15-17
Jawbreaker: The Attack on Bin Laden and Al Qaeda
The Cuban Revolution and
Articles of Impeachment Against George W. Bush
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=935006&mesg_id=935006

[Robbien]

8. Yes. Yay. And I see one of my favorite bloggers is also going to be on

Danny Schechter of Newsdissector will be talking about the media!

which I probably would have missed without your help.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

9. When News Lies... good choice

do you have a link to his blog? I was unaware of him... see you taught me something today? :)

Please kick the thread if you have a chance this weekend, it tends to get lost among all the great posts here.

[calimary]

10. Okay - kicked!

n/t

[Viva_La_Revolution]

11. Thank you calimary!

:hi:

[Robbien]

12. His blog moved while I was away but I tracked it down

can't shake me. Ha!

Here:

http://www.newsdissector.org/blog/

He is also the editor of MediaChannel, which is another blog on my to be read daily list

Here:
http://mediachannel.org/


Be happy to help keep the Bookspan thread kicked. My pleasure.

[MnFats]

4. Just remember & repeat: :"Last throes."

"there's no place like home,

[Breeze54]

5. 'Baghdad: Where no one is safe'.. and they mean - NO ONE!!!! n/t

[oasis]

13. "You've done a heckuva job Rummy" (eom)