I'm feeling a bit on the defensive because I read the Steyn piece very quickly and I haven't time to search it out and re-read it. I thought he was being reactionary, flippant and mischievous. Certainly it was at odds with most of what I read about Iraq, and even what appears in the Daily Telegraph from those correspondents who are based in Iraq rather than trip through it as Steyn did. I read three daily newspaper every day -- the Daily Telegraph, the Independent and the Financial Times, keep my eye on what the New York Times is saying and watch two TV channels (BBC and Channel 4). Everything I read and see from people on the spot is at variance with what Steyn wrote.
Iraq is a disaster area already. America will either have to send in many more troops, administrators and money, or it will be forced out fairly soon -- unless the American public are happy to tolerate one or two soldiers being picked off every day.
We're both not too old not to be able to see the exodus when it happens. I don't suppose it will happen before the presidential election but it might be a gallop afterwards. Of course, the Americans will leave heavy armour and plenty of troops in the oilfields, though even there I'm beginning to wonder whether they have enough to guard them sufficiently at the present time.
I think it is even possible that Bush will come out with the truth before the presidential election -- that he went in in order to protect oil supplies for America. He will be presented by his spin doctors as the Saviour of America. This, of course, will risk terrorist reprisals but, let's face it, America and the UK can withstand terrorists attacks if they occur -- even if it was the odd nuke. However, if I am right, then Bush will be threatening those countries which harbour terrorists -- Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan, etc, -- with overwhelming catastrophe unless they stamp out the Al Qaeda, etc, cells in their own countries. All this in this paragraph is a guess on my part but I wouldn't be surprised if it hapens in the next 12-18 months. In fact, I'm slightly inclined to think that something like this will happen -- it will save Blair, too, because people vote according to their own economic interests, not for altruistic reasons, and he will face another general election in about two years' time. At the present time he is simply being called a liar by many eminent voices, even by the Economist, and he'll have to redeem his name with a higher reason for declaring war.
Keith Hudson
At 11:20 09/06/2003 -0700, you wrote:
Keith, old friend,
May I gently suggest that your reaction to Steyn is really a reaction to Steyn not saying the things he was supposed to have said.
Thus the Jordan refugee camp - a flood of light in the darkness illuminating acres of UN stuff surrounding a few tents of refugees - I thought hilarious. Particularly as the "refugees" wanted to get back to "dangerous" Iraq if the Jordanian border guards would let them.
Also, appealing to me were the UN white SUV's, whose no doubt well-fed occupants were discussing the food plight of the Iraqis in a street lined with stores positively bulging with food.
I'm sure a well-heeled western journalist has no trouble buying things, but the stores would not be offering plenty of goods if there was no-one to buy them. The merchants aren't stupid.
Perhaps, some of the other "journalists" should get off their duffs and see for themselves what it's like outside the information mills in comfy Baghdad.
Then we could confirm, or deny, Steyn's stuff.
I haven't noticed anyone travelling much outside the official venues. Have you read any reports (funny or not) that detailed the everyday life of Iraqis outside the cities?
Yet, you must have to be able to say "His account is totally at variance with everybody's else's accounts."
What other accounts? Other journalists who decided to see for themselves. Others who would be a bit nervous wandering through Saddam's home town? Others who would liken the nervousness as similar to that experienced wandering through some parts of London?
Of course, there is Robert Fisk. Not much fun from him. he's busy with Uday's exploits - then a deadly ambush - "American boots smashing down doors" - anything that is likely to confirm that nothing is any good any more.
If Steyn read Fisk, he wouldn't have gone near Iraq, but fortunately he didn't so he did. Sorry it wasn't what you expected.
Harry
Keith Hudson, 6 Upper Camden Place, Bath, England
