5th anniversary and visitors

We've just had a visit from 4 senators and one vice-president. All of this occurs over a very short period of time - our poor management and logistics people were run ragged. By now the news is out in the press: senators Levin, McCain, Lieberman, and Graham were here followed by the v-p.

At the same time, the bad guys have decided it's a good time to launch more rockets, mortars, and suicide bomb attacks. It is difficult to tell if this is a last, desperate gasp or if it is they are stronger than most of us believed. But after five years, no one is going to say that the terrorists are finished, much as we wish they were.

Check out the recent abc/bbc/ard/nhk poll on security and other issues in Iraq. It's fascinating stuff. Not a rosy picture, but an indication that things are improving. Very useful a few weeks before the Ambassador and General Petraeus testify on progress before Congress in April.

Change of the Guard

This is somethig worth following. Is it a good idea to change the leadership at this time or at the end of the year? Would Amb. Crocker Stay on longer if asked? Would Obama, Clinton, or McCain ask? put on those thinking caps.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/06/AR2008030603610.html?hpid=topnews

No NEC for Now

It looks like no none here will be movin' into the NEC (New Embassy Compound) any time soon. Why? see the attached. Have fun, and stay safe. Ed S.

http://oversight.house.gov/documents/20080229113039.pdf

Dust Storms

We have massive dust storms over the past few days. serious stuff - it stopped the aircraft from flying. think about that one a bit - u.s. military aircraft stopped due to weather. this is a big deal - some times we are talking about helo. medevacs stopped for weather - that is not a good thing.

it lasted about 3 days, and reminded me of the harmattan in west africa. a good reminder of our limitations in the face of nature.

work rolls on, embassy housing remains up in the air, cease-fire with some groups seems to be continuing, fractures inside the bad guys continue.

speaking of bad guys, follow the link to an article in the San Francisco Chronicle reminding the New York Times that good journalism requires checking your facts before sullying the reputation of a presidential candidate. to think i would ever say anything postive about something in the SFC - the mind boggles. I'm also a major fan of Senator McCain, having had breakfast with him over three days during his visit in august, 2002 to Romania.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/22/EDJUV6KCB.DTL