What You Don't Read in the Papers

[Chaerophon]

I don't want to argue what's true and what's false. I don't know the answers. However, I do find it ironic that the author of this e-mail appears to be making the claim that, under Saddam, it has "always been this way", when a great contributer to the economic and social strife has been the sanctions that have reduced the Iraqi economy and quality of life to such a low. If the information contained in the e-mail is true, all the better for Iraqis, but the implied claim that life in Iraq is better than it has ever been under Ba'ath rule is bogus. Yes, Saddam used the sanctions to create sympathy for his plight, but pre-Gulf War, Iraq was one of the economic powerhouses of the middle easy and, socially, was one of the most advanced countries in the region.

From what I understand, the situation varies from region to region, and support for Ba'athists is greatest in the north. While the Shi'ites in the South are celebrating, those in the north are less enthusiastic. The situation is far from cut and dry, and frankly, I'm not about to throw my eggs into ANY baskets.