good news, bad news

good news from The Guardian Weekly, 12-18 May 2006, p. 1 (no apologies for the hard copy reference): lieut.-gen. peter chiarelli, commander of day-to-day operations in iraq has issued orders to u.s. military to jettison the heavy-handed approach which simply, to quote his words, "risk the chance of creating an insurgent, of creating somebody who gets so disgusted with the , quote unquote, occupiers that they get off on the wrong side." this is the british rules of engagement and, a little late, make a lot of sense.

bad news from The Guardian Weekly, 12-18 May 2006, p. 1: british were rethinking their tactics when insurgents shot down a helicopter and gunfire broke out when central basra populace celebrated the downed chopper with jubilant riots. according to one basra resident, the dire situation in basra [basra!?; that used to be the one safe place outside the lands of kurds] made another confrontation likely:

• Electricity is absent for most of the day and gasoline is every expensive. Ordinary people can never get a job at the state security forces becauase it is entirely controlled by the militias. People think those who used to live abroad came and controlled everything while the common citizens still cannot get basic life needs.

so softly-softly might be a little too late. there was no rebuilding of iraq and, obviously, there is little security. looks like billions spent in no-bid contracts did a heck of a job.