Posted on 10/25/2009 9:48:25 PM PDT by Saije
From the air Sunday morning, this looked like a city restored. You could see paddle boats skimming the pond at Zawra Park, and go-karts and waterslides. And in every direction, new schools and soccer fields and bustling warehouses -- all taking shape under the canopy of the new Iraq.
But down below, it turned out to be a morning from hell. Terrorists exploded two massive car bombs at the Justice Ministry and the Baghdad provincial administration, killing more than 100 and wounding more than 500...
Around the time the bombers struck, I was flying over the city in a Black Hawk helicopter with Gen. David Petraeus...While Petraeus was off visiting officials, I had lunch with two Iraqi friends at the Al-Rashid Hotel...my Iraqi friends were surprisingly upbeat about the future, even after Sunday's terrible bombings. "In every sector, Iraq is coming back to its normal mode," said one. "There is no way it will slip back," insisted the other...
Rather than talking about the bombings, we talked politics. My friends sharply criticized the incumbent prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki. But as we were debating, one turned to me with a smile: "Here we are talking about who will run the government after the elections. Could you do that in any other country in the Arab world?"
As night fell, Petraeus and his party flew to Camp Victory,... "Baghdad can be a cruel place," he told me. "You have to keep a grip on your hopes." But as the Black Hawk skimmed over the city, Baghdad seemed to be teeming again, despite the morning's events.
...I asked later if he thought Sunday's violence would lead people to request that American troops return to the cities, and he shook his head: "Iraq is a sovereign country. Iraqis will respond to this."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Resilient? Iraq is going to explode in civil war as soon as we leave.
Iran is emboldened by Obama’s weakness.
Hey, where are all those “This Endless War” bumper stickers?
If they come, it will be from Obama’s buddies, and he will be happy to oblige them by pulling out. What he wanted all along.
I wonder what this headline would look like if GWB were still president?
Worst day of violence since forever!
President Bush to blame for terrorist bombings.
The media is so full of crap.
“I wonder what this headline would look like if GWB were still president?
Worst day of violence since forever!
President Bush to blame for terrorist bombings.
The media is so full of crap.”
Amazing isn’t it? Obama is now president so the media template changes.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.