Micah Wright on the War in Iraq

CNN reports that the Shi'ite holy city of Najaf has fallen to Mehdi's Army, the insurgent militia directed by Moqtada al-Sadr.
So now the insurgents are fighting in the streets in Baghdad, Fallujah, Basra, Amarah, Nasiriyah and Najaf. There has also been combat between al-Sadr's forces and Ukranian troops in Kut. Reports have it that Fallujah is still under the control of insurgents (Marines are "fighting their way in") and now CNN reports that al-Sadr's forces are in control of "government, religious and security buildings" in Najaf. It's reported that "Iraqi police are negotiating to regain their stations."

The Evening Standard reports that Iraq has been plunged into "anarchy". Elements of Mehdi's Army are said to have seized control of "key bridges" on the Euphrates.

Even as Iraq slips into anarchy and insurgents take over entire cities (Fallujah and Najaf) American proconsul L. Paul Bremer continues to insist that everything is just fine. Bremer says "There is no question we have control over the country. I know if you just report on those few places, it does look chaotic. But if you travel around the country, what you find is a bustling economy, people opening businesses right and left, unemployment has dropped."

It becomes clear that Mr. Bremer is either attempting to systematically mislead the American people or has lost touch with reality when he begins to talk about unemployment dropping while Iraq erupts into terrible guerilla warfare all around him. It must be the dropping unemployment that has led to the order forbidding travel of CPA officials outside the Green Zone. "Danger! Falling unemployment!"

The reality is that the cities home to 77% of Iraq's population are now engulfed in battle. Insurgents, instead of simply hitting and running, are now digging in. Government buildings are being seized. The trappings of occupation — police stations and bureacratic centers — have been seized.

Bremer will continue insisting that unemployment is down even as the angry mobs breach the Green Zone. If it comes to it he will be yelling "unemployment is down!" as the mobs set upon his headquarters and his helicopter lifts off to bring him to safety.

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