6.29.2004

"The Iraqi People Have Their Country Back"

That's what President Bush said today.

OK, but the Iraqis don't have:

    * the ability to toss us out
    * the authority to stop combat operations conducted by us
    * control over all the prisoners detained during the war
    * the ability to control their own money
    * any influence over a HUGE staff under the control of new ambassador John ("We showed those Hondurans!") Negroponte who will operate very much in the capacity L. Paul Bremer
    * the infrastructure we destroyed restored
    * management of their own greatest natural resource (crude oil)
    * a free press (although the US is straining in that department itself these days)
    * the level of equality for women there that was enjoyed during Saddam's reign
    * the ability to prosecute any contractors for misdeeds (one of the papers signed today keeps contractors exempt from all the laws of the country)
I could go on and on. But the hour is late, I am moody, and I have to fight with both the IRS and Blue Cross later today. ;)