"We were so happy on April 9, 2003 when the Americans came. But I've given up."

An article from The Times detailing the horror of Baghdad today.

Written strictly from the perspective of average citizens, there are - mercifully - no quotes from American military or government personnel trying to give it a whitewash glaze.

Every time I read an article like this, I always ask the same question: Did we really think we could just waltz into another country with a red, white, & blue bow-tied gift basket and say, "Here. For you. Freshly-baked Democracy!" and expect it would take a strong, firm hold?

It seems to me that it flies directly in the face of a psychological truth: one can't truly appreciate and properly care for something that hasn't been achieved as a result of one's own hard work.

These are innocent peoples' lives uprooted and destroyed by the pen strokes of a few power-hungry suit-wearers in the West who clearly didn't think this idea through.

And then, the other question: What is The Decider and his crew gonna do about the mess that's been created? Continue to point his fucking finger of strength and defiance in our faces right to the bitter, bitter end, I imagine.



Not that finger!


This one. The one that says, "Lemme tell ya what I been told is wrong about what yer sayin'..."