More Grim Reality

Conditions in Iraq have worsened to the point that it is becoming increasingly difficult for independent journalists, who cannot afford extensive security asistance, to report first hand. Dahr Jamail, whose independent dispatches have been some of the best, can no longer function in Iraq. He does offer some of the correspondence from his sources to remind readers that conditions are hellish.

Oh Dahr, I don't know what to say about my wounded country. Every Iraqi wants to bomb himself because of this shit life. Now Iraq is nothing like it was when you were here last, as bad as it was then. It has become very difficult to find someone who smiles. Everyone is sad and crying. This is true and this is our life now. The problem is that I know everything because I am filming so many people who are suffering.

[...]

Iraqi life has changed into some kind of hellish disaster. Sectarian feelings are following us everywhere. Everywhere around Baghdad that you stop at any of the checkpoints, which are spreading all over, the men hold their guns in their hands. I assume each man knows how to use it, but the problem is: Is this guard a Sunni or Shi'ite? You cannot tell. The clashes I've been seeing haven't spared any of the areas in the city, whether they are Sunni or Shi'ite.

He concludes:

The fact is, for most Iraqis, there is little hope left, though polls show that more than 70% of them still want all occupation forces out of their country. I've long since abandoned asking myself the question: How much worse can it get in Iraq? My Iraqi friends and colleagues tell me that one of the more popular sayings in Baghdad nowadays is, "Today is better than tomorrow."

Americans, except for our troops, may not experience this hell directly but I think it's safe to conclude that as far as our occupation goes "today is better than tomorrow."