Life in Iraq

billydkid · 13th July 2007, 05:53 AM

Of course, in as much as this is on Lew Rockwell's site I expect some to dismiss it out of hand. Thinking is such a pain in the ass.
http://www.lewrockwell.com/engelhard...lhardt293.html

Darth Rotor · 13th July 2007, 06:34 AM

Originally Posted by billydkid

Of course, in as much as this is on Lew Rockwell's site I expect some to dismiss it out of hand. Thinking is such a pain in the ass.
http://www.lewrockwell.com/engelhard...lhardt293.html

Lind's 4GW remarks dated today, Friday 13th, 2007, offer an interesting complementary view of the disconnect described in the article you linked to.

Buquba does not seem to have changed much in three years. Tragic.

DR

Gurdur · 13th July 2007, 06:40 AM

Life in Iraq now: poor, nasty, brutish, and short.

Bellum omnium contra omnes.

Gurdur · 13th July 2007, 07:00 AM

Oh, and further confirmation of Bellum omnium in omnes in the news just today:

U.S. Troops Battle Iraqi Police

Of course, that's hardly a first; the British in Basra had to blow up a police station and free the prisoners of the police.

Maybe the USA and the UK could invade Iraq, topple the regime and put something better in its place. Whooooops, um, that already took place. Something wrong there.

Ziggurat · 13th July 2007, 08:45 AM

Um, this article is crap. Let's start with the subject:
"In a months-long investigation, Chris Hedges and Laila al-Arian interviewed 50 U.S. combat veterans who had been stationed in Iraq. They were intent on exploring "the effects of the four-year-old occupation on average Iraqi civilians" (as well as on those soldiers)."

Interviewing veterans might give you a good indication of what the occupation is like for soldiers, but that's not exactly an accurate way of determining what life is like for the average Iraqi civilian. In fact, it's exactly the WRONG way of determining that. Geeze.

For a much better, first-hand look at what life is like for Iraqis, I suggest paying attention to what Iraqis themselves are saying. And even regarding what life is like for soldiers, a collection of after-the-fact recollections of the most unusual incidents to happen to soldiers (which, really, is what you'll get with this sort of interview process, which creates a process of selection both in choosing interviewees and in what events they recount) is hardly as indicative of daily life as on-the-scene reporting.

Gurdur · 13th July 2007, 09:31 AM

Originally Posted by Ziggurat

....For a much better, first-hand look at what life is like for Iraqis, I suggest paying attention to what Iraqis themselves are saying.

By all means, do just that, and you'll find:

".....increasing pessimism and feeling of insecurity since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein. ........ Much pessimism appears to stem from the fact that life is not noticeably improving for many people with rising dissatisfaction about the availability of jobs, clean water, electricity and the freedom to choose where to live without persecution. Some Iraqis blame their politicians for the situation - 53% were dissatisfied with the way the Iraqi government was performing, compared with 33% in 2005. .... Support for the coalition forces based in Iraq is low - with 82% expressing a lack of confidence in them and 69% thinking they had made the security situation worse.
......

The Central Scrutinizer · 13th July 2007, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by billydkid

Of course, in as much as this is on Lew Rockwell's site I expect some to dismiss it out of hand. Thinking is such a pain in the ass.
http://www.lewrockwell.com/engelhard...lhardt293.html

I'll dismiss it out of hand because it is stupid. Which is par for the course for Lew Rockwell's site, since he is an idiot. Which is why I dismiss articles on his site out of hand.

joshbuckley · 21st July 2007, 01:18 PM

There is actually a blog titled "Baghdad Burning" written by a young Iraqi girl in Baghdad. It's a great story about the "progress" Iraq has made in the last 4-5 years from a point of view of an ordinary Iraqi.

13th July 2007, 05:53 AM	#1
billydkid Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Blanchester, OH Posts: 4,930	Life in Iraq Of course, in as much as this is on Lew Rockwell's site I expect some to dismiss it out of hand. Thinking is such a pain in the ass. http://www.lewrockwell.com/engelhard...lhardt293.html
	__________________ Wasting away in Blanchester.

13th July 2007, 06:34 AM	#2
Darth Rotor Salted Sith Cynic Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rat cheer Posts: 34,260	Originally Posted by billydkid Of course, in as much as this is on Lew Rockwell's site I expect some to dismiss it out of hand. Thinking is such a pain in the ass. http://www.lewrockwell.com/engelhard...lhardt293.html Lind's 4GW remarks dated today, Friday 13th, 2007, offer an interesting complementary view of the disconnect described in the article you linked to. Buquba does not seem to have changed much in three years. Tragic. DR
	__________________ Helicopters don't so much fly as beat the air into submission. "Jesus wept, but did He laugh?"--F.H. Buckley____"There is one thing that was too great for God to show us when He walked upon our earth ... His mirth." --Chesterton__"If the barbarian in us is excised, so is our humanity."--D'rok__ "I only use my gun whenever kindness fails."-- Robert Earl Keen__"Sturgeon spares none.". -- The Marquis

13th July 2007, 06:40 AM	#3
Gurdur Person Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 4,875	Life in Iraq now: poor, nasty, brutish, and short. Bellum omnium contra omnes.
Gurdur Person Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 4,875

13th July 2007, 07:00 AM	#4
Gurdur Person Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 4,875	Oh, and further confirmation of Bellum omnium in omnes in the news just today: U.S. Troops Battle Iraqi Police Of course, that's hardly a first; the British in Basra had to blow up a police station and free the prisoners of the police. Maybe the USA and the UK could invade Iraq, topple the regime and put something better in its place. Whooooops, um, that already took place. Something wrong there.
Gurdur Person Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 4,875

13th July 2007, 08:45 AM	#5
Ziggurat Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 26,180	Um, this article is crap. Let's start with the subject: "In a months-long investigation, Chris Hedges and Laila al-Arian interviewed 50 U.S. combat veterans who had been stationed in Iraq. They were intent on exploring "the effects of the four-year-old occupation on average Iraqi civilians" (as well as on those soldiers)." Interviewing veterans might give you a good indication of what the occupation is like for soldiers, but that's not exactly an accurate way of determining what life is like for the average Iraqi civilian. In fact, it's exactly the WRONG way of determining that. Geeze. For a much better, first-hand look at what life is like for Iraqis, I suggest paying attention to what Iraqis themselves are saying. And even regarding what life is like for soldiers, a collection of after-the-fact recollections of the most unusual incidents to happen to soldiers (which, really, is what you'll get with this sort of interview process, which creates a process of selection both in choosing interviewees and in what events they recount) is hardly as indicative of daily life as on-the-scene reporting.
	__________________ "As long as it is admitted that the law may be diverted from its true purpose -- that it may violate property instead of protecting it -- then everyone will want to participate in making the law, either to protect himself against plunder or to use it for plunder. Political questions will always be prejudicial, dominant, and all-absorbing. There will be fighting at the door of the Legislative Palace, and the struggle within will be no less furious." - Bastiat, The Law

13th July 2007, 09:31 AM	#6
Gurdur Person Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 4,875	Originally Posted by Ziggurat ....For a much better, first-hand look at what life is like for Iraqis, I suggest paying attention to what Iraqis themselves are saying. By all means, do just that, and you'll find: ".....increasing pessimism and feeling of insecurity since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein. ........ Much pessimism appears to stem from the fact that life is not noticeably improving for many people with rising dissatisfaction about the availability of jobs, clean water, electricity and the freedom to choose where to live without persecution. Some Iraqis blame their politicians for the situation - 53% were dissatisfied with the way the Iraqi government was performing, compared with 33% in 2005. .... Support for the coalition forces based in Iraq is low - with 82% expressing a lack of confidence in them and 69% thinking they had made the security situation worse. ......
Gurdur Person Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 4,875

13th July 2007, 09:41 AM	#7
The Central Scrutinizer Penultimate Amazing Pither Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The White Zone Posts: 42,264	Originally Posted by billydkid Of course, in as much as this is on Lew Rockwell's site I expect some to dismiss it out of hand. Thinking is such a pain in the ass. http://www.lewrockwell.com/engelhard...lhardt293.html I'll dismiss it out of hand because it is stupid. Which is par for the course for Lew Rockwell's site, since he is an idiot. Which is why I dismiss articles on his site out of hand.
	__________________ If I see somebody with a gun on a plane? I'll kill him.

21st July 2007, 01:18 PM	#8
joshbuckley New Blood Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 18	There is actually a blog titled "Baghdad Burning" written by a young Iraqi girl in Baghdad. It's a great story about the "progress" Iraq has made in the last 4-5 years from a point of view of an ordinary Iraqi.
joshbuckley New Blood Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 18