'Just World News' with Helena Cobban

Iraq: an administrator's-eye view

I realize that there are many massive political developments underway in Iraq. I don't have time right now to say anything new or interesting about them. But I just wanted to make note of the following little sub-set of the story...

There's a slightly dank-looking blog out there in the blogosphere called Deeds. It's written by someone using the pseudonym "John Galt" and describing himself as "a U.S. citizen working in the CPA in Baghdad". If you click on the link "Who is John Galt?" you end up at a picture of a cat.

Why all this secrecy? He links prominently in his blogroll to something called Debkafile, which is an unabashedly pro-Likud website full of alleged "hot news" from the Global War on Terror... Maybe that's a clue, right there?

Anyway, he hasn't been posting much recently. Too busy winning the war on terror, eh, John? But cruising through his blog quickly today I found a fascinating set of contributions to his Comments board, as follows:

John, I am here at the CPA again. I was in Al Ramadi for three weeks, which is in Al Anbar. I was helping 82nd transfer everything to the Marines. Things were okay when I arrived, but as the Marines moved in I noticed that hostilities were growing. Here are a few things that I noticed:

Cel | 03.31.04 - 12:52 am | #

(Second part)

1) When 82nd pulled out so did the CA units, I can't name them here. The Marines are not Civil Affairs qualified, therefore Civil Military operations are not a focus.

The Civil Military Operation Center (CMOC) did not open for three days there, and when it was opened the hours of operation were reduced. People are getting tired of not having food, a job, not seeing their relatives, etc. The procedures to get the basic needs for the civilians are extremely difficult. For example, to see a relative that has been detained, the person has to get the detainee number, then request a guarantor (file papers), go to the IAC in Baghdad (too far, no car), then go to Abu Ghraib (where hundreds are also waiting to see their relatives). The situation is terrible.

Cel | 03.31.04 - 12:54 am | #


(Third part)
How can a mother with four kids get around, being hungry, weak, no car, and no information...? It is already March,when will the relative be released? What about potable water, electricity?

Cel | 03.31.04 - 12:54 am | #

Why are forces stopping traffic to get through when people are late for work, a job that was probably very hard to find?

2) As Marines moved in, security was increased, people were receiving the wrong message.

At CPA we are trying but we don't have too many people there to really see what is occurring. The civilians I dealt with were humble and beautiful. I couldn't believe the stories about confrontations. I did see, by the end of my mission, children showing the sole of their feet, yelling "Amerikans, go home!" I understand that they are angry and tired.

Fallujah may be a different case...are there gangs? If you study why men join gangs then you will know that they are trying to achieve the basics.We need more PSYOP and CA forces over there...Perhaps more NGO and CPA involvement.

I met a few CPA workers over there who have a lot of knowledge of what is going on...but they are not working for the amount of money they are getting paid!

Cel | 03.31.04 - 12:59 am | #