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Matt Frei, the BBC’s new man in America, has noticed the lack of Iraq news once permeating the US media. In his latest report, he notes the reduction in murder and mayhem in that country, or at least, the drop in news coverage of such events.

Frei puts it all down to the “surge”, that influx of US military might into Baghdad of an additional 30,000 or so troops. He’s probably right. Swamp any city with sufficient armor and you’ll get a reduction in enemy action. That’s exactly what the “surge”was all about.

The main BBC news headline tonight (Frei is the anchor) showed scenes of Iraqis returning from exile to the new ‘peace and tranquility’ of the Baghdad suburbs. In fairness, the report highlighted most Iraqis as returning from Syria, a country that is refusing to renew visas for Iraqi refugees, forcing them to return to their home country.

By contrast, NBC led with the rise in political fortunes of Mike Huckabee, ex-governor of Arkansas and Republican hopeful for presidential nomination. Huckabee, it seems, is preferred by Iowa evangelicals to that multi-divorcee and gun control freak (God have mercy on his soul!) Rudi Guiliani, or the cult follower from Utah (Damn him to Hell!) Mitt Romney.

Iraq, it seems, no longer exists for the US media or the White House.

America is holding its breath; afraid to pronounce judgment, even whisper the possibility of any improvement in that arena of unmitigated disasters long ago proven the stumbling block of a great nation, and the further undoing of a US president always unfit for public service.

Baghdad is certainly quieter. Iraqis generally had no love for al Qaeda, and some Sunni insurgents have been prepared to temporarily join forces with the US military to drive them out. Equally certain is the knowledge that both Sunnis and Shias are keen to see the Americans leave Iraq. It begs the question of how they will react when the Americans don’t go.

For, of course, the US is going nowhere. There may well be a troop reduction next year, it is an election year after all, but a substantial military and political presence will remain in Iraq permanently. Of that, as Gilbert & Sullivan’s Don Alhambra sang in the Gondoliers, “…..there is no manner of doubt, no probable, possible shadow of doubt, no possible doubt whatever.”

The race for the US Presidency is proving a timely diversion from the awkward, unanswered questions about Iraq. While Baghdad is quiet, turmoil still continues to reign elsewhere. Sunni and Shia, when not separated by American-built concrete walls, continue to kill each other with mundane regularity. Al Qaeda is still active outside Baghdad, and for a realistic insight into the problems occurring on a daily basis there is no finer website than “Iraq Today”.

The BBC’s Matt Frei may see hope in the returning refugees from Syria; George W Bush and his media supporters may wish the squabbling politicians preparing for Iowa continue to distract their compliant populace, but the stark truth is that Iraqis are still dying in large numbers, whether from bombs, revenge killings, or just inadequate essential services.

The day must surely come when Iraqis, both Sunni and Shia, will realize their country is to be permanently occupied by US Christian forces. On that day, it is likely the worm will turn with a vengeance, just as it did against the British in 1920.

For those who still doubt, read Robert Fisk’s June 2004 article in the Independent, entitled simply, “Iraq, 1917”.

As George Santayana once said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

Read Matt Frei’s article on Iraq HERE.

Filed under: Forlorn hopes

“First [the Dodo] marked out a race-course, in a sort of circle, (`the exact shape doesn’t matter,’ it said,) and then all the party were placed along the course, here and there. There was no `One, two, three, and away,’ but they began running when they liked, and left off when they liked, so that it was not easy to know when the race was over. However, when they had been running half an hour or so, and were quite dry again, the Dodo suddenly called out `The race is over!’ and they all crowded round it, panting, and asking, `But who has won?’ ~ Description of a Caucus Race from Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll.

Brian Williams, anchor for the NBC Nightly News, announced yesterday the official race for the White House would begin in forty-three days with the Iowa Caucus.

It leaves one wondering where he has been for the last few years.

If memory serves correctly, the Caucus Race devised in Carroll’s book, “Alice in Wonderland” was a tortuous affair without official end, until everyone finally decided they’d had enough, and a winner was eventually chosen apparently at random.

While there are, no doubt, those who at least make pretense of understanding the American way of choosing their nation’s next leader, to those outside this inner political sanctum of doubtful knowledge the whole thing makes “Alice’s” Caucus Race appear remarkably logical by comparison. In fact, the tortuously meandering path of the US presidential election closely resembles this Wonderland jaunt.

The race was suggested as a way to dry-off a number of very wet creatures. Is their anything wetter than a US politician slavering over the White House and pawing at unwary voters?

The process certainly seems to drag on without end, and the final outcome appears to bear little relation to all that preceded it.

Primaries, secondaries, CBS polls, MSNBC polls, straw polls, debates for Republicans, debates for Democrats (for God’s sake don’t let them get together, there’ll be a bloodbath!), the spending of billions and billions of dollars, huge luxury buses hurtling round the country, thousands of hangers-on supporting their man (or woman), endless TV debates by pseudo-experts with as much idea of the political outcome as had Alice’s Dodo………..

And all for what? So once again a glitzy, pearl-teethed, dumbass can make a total mess of the world for another four years, or longer.

Check out the history and it’s obvious there has never, ever been a good president of the USA. Every one has cocked up the job one way or another. Sure, some have managed to do a bit better than others, but overall their credibility ratings have been decidedly lackluster, and frequently downright appalling. Even the one perhaps remembered with greatest fondness, Abraham Lincoln, could hardly be described as lily-white, given that in 1862 he ordered the largest mass execution – of 38 innocent Santee Dakota Sioux – in American history.

Lincoln also suspended Habeus Corpus and arrested thousands of US citizens, including journalists. There is also evidence he was a racist and hated blacks, despite being feted for abolishing slavery. Probably, he would be less well remembered had someone not assassinated him in 1865. America remembers its assassinated presidents with obliging affection. The far-from-perfect JFK is another fine example.

The US political system is probably one of the most flawed on the planet. It falls only slightly short of downright military dictatorship. Instead, it balances precariously between that and a rough pretense at democracy, with the latter conveniently cast aside whenever US policy requires a more direct approach, as amply demonstrated by the present incumbent.

Indeed, just as the birds and small creatures of the Caucus Race crept quietly away at the mention of Alice’s favorite cat, it would seem Lady Democracy is also slipping silently into the American political basement, as Congress cedes more and more of its power to one very dubious human being in the highest office on the planet.

How long, one wonders, before a newly-elected appears at the presidential inauguration dressed in the attire of the Queen of Hearts, while occasionally screaming, “Off with his HEAD!”

Filed under: Curiouser and curiouser

It was rough while it lasted, but I’m now happy to report myself on the road to recovery and raring to catch up on all the latest happenings.

Especial thanks to all of you who sent your best wishes for my recovery. They were truly appreciated. Also, a big thank you to my wife for looking after me so well and for putting up with probably the worst patient any nurse could ever have.

Thanks again.

RJ