TUESDAY MEDIA WATCH

"We are bringing order to parts of that country that remain dangerous....We are helping to rebuild Iraq, where the dictator built palaces for himself, instead of hospitals and schools for the people." President Bush, 1st May (Source: BBC News Online)

"This is the single most chaotic organisation I have ever worked for....The operation is chronically under-resourced and suffers from an almost complete absence of strategic direction. We are facing an almost complete inability to engage with what needs to be done and to bring to bear sufficient resources to make a difference." Senior British official in Baghdad on the American-led reconstruction effort in Iraq. Quoted in the Daily Telegraph, June 17th.


From The Economist, a report on the quarrel between the Kurds and the UN over unspent oil revenue. The reference in the article to the Kurds accusing the UN of inefficiency is priceless. Talk about pots and black kettles. I've put this report into a .txt file because it's available by subscription only:

The Economist: What's Happened To Our Cash?


...and a 72-year old Floridian amputee shows none of the self-pity demonstrated by yours truly. "Don't you realize there are so many people worse off than me? Look at these automobile accidents and what happens to so many people,'' the plucky pensioner says. "The only thing is, how many people have their arm torn off by an alligator?'' Er......I dunno. Probably not many.

Boston Herald: Gator didn't get her spirit

Discuss "Beyond Northern Iraq"