[Dean's World] Dave Price: Iraq Brightening?

[notify at powerblogs.com]

Posted by Dave Price:
Iraq Brightening?
http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1192827745.shtml


   Little noticed this month was the news that Iraq's electricity
   production has [1]set a new all-time high in September of around 6,860
   MW, including 2,000 MW or more of non-public generation (p40), illegal
   under Saddam (because like any good national socialist despot, he
   outlawed private generators). Oil revenue also set a new record of
   $3.79 billion (p39).
   The only negative trend in Iraq seems be the [2]funeral industry.
   Also, [3]via Ace, this [4]tale of Iraqi heroism:

     A 72-year-old man stopped a suspected suicide bomber from
     detonating himself at a checkpoint in Arab Jabour Oct. 14.
     The man approached a checkpoint where Mudhehr Fayadh Baresh was
     standing guard, but did not make it very far.
     Baresh, a tribal commissioner and member of the Arab Jabour
     Concerned Citizens program, said he ordered the man to lift his
     shirt - using training received from Coalition Forces - when he did
     not recognize him as a local villager.
     The suspect refused to lift his shirt. Baresh repeated the command
     again, and the suspect exposed his suicide vest, running toward the
     checkpoint.
     Baresh opened fire which caused the vest to detonate, killing the
     suspect.

   A common antiwar trope is that fighting terrorists in Iraq "creates
   more terrorists." There may be some small truth to this, but we have
   certainly created far more Iraqi anti-terrorists, who are in turn
   fighting the terrorists -- and at 360,000 strong, the ISF certainly
   outnumber the terrorists, never mind the average Iraqis like Mudhehr
   Baresh who are taking a stand.

References

   1. http://www.brookings.edu/saban/~/media/Files/Centers/Saban/Iraq%20Index/index.pdf
   2. http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20071016/wl_mcclatchy/20071016bcusiraqcemetery_attn_national_foreign_editors_ytop
   3. http://ace.mu.nu/archives/243914.php
   4. http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14681&Itemid=128