The Mini Economic Boom in Iraq That Is Hardly Reported

Amir Taheri, Arab News has a great article-

UM QASAR, Iraq — While the American political elite are using Iraq as an excuse for fighting internal political wars, a different reality is taking shape in parts of this war-torn nation. Wherever some measure of security is assured, that is to say in more than 80 percent of Iraq, towns and villages long left to die a slow death are creeping back to life.

Nowhere is this slow but steady return to life more startling than in Um Qasar, in the southeast extremity of Iraq on the Gulf. Four years ago, this was a jumble of rusting quays, abandoned houses, gutted buildings, and a wall of mud erected by an ever-receding sea. By the spring of 2003, Um Qasar’s population had dwindled to a few dozen, along with hundreds of stray dogs. There was even talk of abandoning it altogether....go read the rest here....

Counting down the time...........

Sitting here reading hand-wringing from around the world, waiting for the year to finally die.

Enjoyed some dead cow tonight from Hoppcott Meats just down the Connector in Pitt Meadows. I recommend trying their meat, it's local and good.

Celebrating Justice...

Iraq the Model has a great post up- Saddam drew his path to hell long time ago…he chose this fate the day he chose cruelty and oppression as a way to deal with his people. He built his reign with blood and terror and vowed to make death the fate of anyone who dared say no to him......

Spring project?

Via National Post

Built with metre-thick walls, decorated with 1920s chandeliers and brimming with an extraordinary collection, Arron Barberian's wine cellar is the place to be during a nuclear war.
Photograph by : Peter Redman, National Post

A better world tomorrow!

UPDATE:Iraq reports that Saddam was hanged at 6:00 AM local time, (8:00 PM PST) BBC Reports, via Bourque

Michelle Malkin reports that-

The timing of Saddam's date with the gallows was unclear, but late Thursday CBS, NBC and Fox News Channel reported that the former dictator, convicted this year in the deaths of 148 people in 1982, would be turned over by the American military to the Iraqi government within 36 hours and hanged before the start of a Muslim holiday on Sunday.

Several sources said Saddam's execution would be videotaped by the Iraqi government, though it wasn't clear whether it would be released to the public or broadcast.

"We will video everything," Iraqi National Security adviser Mouffak al Rubaie told CBS News.

Judging by the Iraqi government's release Tuesday of videotape of the hanging of 13 convicts, it could be a gruesome affair. Meetings were held Thursday in at least two network headquarters over how to handle the potentially graphic images.

ABC and CBS said they wouldn't air the full execution if the video became available.

Mudville 12/28/06

After hiding from politics for the past several years, I was planning to get more active after the new year, but the item below got me started early. Otherwise, officially I'm on holiday, (Mike phone a couple of feet away). It's actually NOT raining for a change! There's a Blue Jay in the 40 foot butterfly bush out by the fence on 232.

Military atrocity caught my eye.

I stumbled across a link on Kate's site that needs following. It lead me to Beacon Off where I found this-

"Well, guys. I just want to add another injustice to how the CF are being treated. As you know, I am at Addis Ababa with TFAA, supporting the African Union in Sudan. This month, someone in Ottawa has decided that our mission should have the Risk Level down graded from Level 2 to Level 1 and have our danger pay reduced. In addition, with Risk level reduced, the tax exemption was gone. This is retroactive to June 2006. Well, the pay system took all the taxes owed in one shot and for my Dec pay, I owed the Feds $11000.00."

I don't know who this is, or if it's accurate, but I emailed it to Randy Kamp (our MP) and asked for a reply when it is resolved.

Email your MP. Their email is found here.

Ian