Finally decided to buy something off EBay and was delighted with the results. Using PayPal I can buy items without having to divulge my credit card details. Something that I am always nervous about but with PayPal all is well.
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Things in Iraq appear to be lurching from bad to worse and the optimism of only a month ago has now gone. It appears to be a number of things all occurring: Sunnis and Shias all rising up against the Coalition forces. It does an impression that the usually antagonistic groups are joining forces but most of these incidents appear to be occurring without a plan. The Sunni's are mainly anti-American and still loyal to Saddam while the Shia's are revolting over a number of other reasons: poverty, anger over the continued humiliation, revenge and a power grab prior to the June 30 handover. Whatever it is the coalition forces are up to their necks in it. Situation looks difficult - when the troops pile into densely populated urban areas in an effort to prise out the gunman; casualties on both sides will be high.
American deaths add more pressure on the Americans to leave however they can?t now. I want my news so where the heck are the embedded news hacks that so revolutionised the coverage from the beginning of the war?
There is no democracy in Iraq, most of the infrastructure is shattered and the people are angry and losing patience with the broken promises. Many have no jobs and see the Americans not as liberators but as occupiers. Most people know that the war was partly over the access to the oil fields. Let?s not forgot that.
So the coalition must stay and I can see the US asking the UN for help, in fact begging for it if the situation spirals out of control. This would be interesting problem for the UN ? will they come in and appear to give the US and the coalition their blessing or should they refuse to help until the Americans come under UN control? All the time, people will continue to die. I can?t think of a way out ? apart from turning the clocks back.
In the US election this year, I doubt the decisions will change if (when) Kerry wins, I can?t see him yanking the troops out. In fact, the numbers may even increase further leading to a general war in the Middle East sucking in Syria, Iran and others. What a mess that will be. To make things even more interesting I can see more terrorist attacks like the horrible bombing in Madrid and London is bracing herself for an attack. Enough to age you by ten years.