Baghdad Journal: May 9, 2006
May 9, 2006 — -- We have reached day 10, which seems like a good time to get a status report on some important issues.
Fox the Dog: Outside and loving it. He smells better and better every day, and believe me, I am checking. Unclear whether he feels the same way about me.
Thomas Jefferson: I"m 260 pages into the book now. The detail is excruciating, and frankly, the guy is a little bit of an overachiever. I am not sure I would want to be his friend. I mean, I am grateful to him for democracy and everything, but did he also have to write a book that included facts about quadripeds in North America? I am in danger of not finishing the biography while I am here. Nevertheless, I do not plan to extend my stay.
Me getting on TV: Not quite as much as I would like, but I don't get to make the decisions. If I did, there would be six Red Sox spots every night, and then my Iraq stuff (although some nights I would lead with me, but only if I were particularly good). I am mulling over the idea of a film festival when I get back. "Iraq: The Never-Before-Seen Pieces!"
The Red Sox: They are 6-3 since I left. At that pace, they would win 108 games this season. Clearly they are playing well with me here. Nevertheless, I will not extend my stay.
Lionel Richie: One of the Arabic TV stations here just ran a giant promo for an interview with Mr. Richie. I almost jumped out of my seat. More proof that I am not making up this whole Lionel Richie thing.
Bird Flu: I don't have it. Don't know anyone who does.
Actually, while I am on the subject of making lists, people sometimes ask how Iraq has changed over the course of my visits. So here is a brief rundown
March-April 2003 This was the invasion. What I remember from this trip was there were a lot of people shooting at or near me. It was the single most harrowing experience of my life. I really didn't get to see as much of the country as I would have liked because I was ducking a lot. This was my first experience embedding (and the Marines' first experience with embeds). The few Iraqis I met this time seemed genuinely glad to be rid of Saddam Hussein and grateful the Americans are here.
July-August 2003 This was hot. I nearly melted. I embedded with Army troops in Tikrit -- the guys who were hunting Saddam Hussein. They didn't get him while I was there, but the same guys did four months later (obviously, I was bad luck). I slept on the pool deck at the house of one of Saddam's daughters. Amazingly, we drove to Tikrit. At that point, we could drive anywhere. At the end of my stay, insurgents bombed the United Nations building. This was a major turning point, and it felt like it at that very moment ... almost like, "uh-oh, this whole thing won't be easy, will it?"
October-November 2003 I came here after the Yankees cheated and beat the Red Sox in the playoffs, though I am not bitter or anything. The Red Cross was bombed on this trip, but we were still getting out of the bureau some. I went on patrol with the Iraqi police. Iraqis on the street started telling me I looked like Paul Bremer, and they did not mean that in a good way.
March-April 2004 Everything fell apart. The Mt. Lebanon Hotel was bombed. Four American contractors were dragged through the streets of Fallujah. Moqtada al Sadr began his Shiite uprising. We were locked down in the bureau.
July 2004 It was hot again. Very hot. We were still essentially locked down in the bureau. Correspondent Nick Watt and I played "Extreme Scrabble" on our roof, battling each other and the heat. I think he won. But he is Irish or Scottish or something, so he had a whole additional set of English words to choose from. Ayad Allawi was the new prime minister. Everyone thought he might do a good job.
December 2004 Everyone seemed to hate Ayad Allawi. We started hearing about teachers and doctors who were afraid to show up for work because they were becoming targets. It was the run-up to the first election -- very tense, but people were hopeful for democracy.
April 2005 Four months after the first election, there was still no government in place. The Iraqi leaders couldn't reach agreement on key points -- this was a sign of the times to come. Ibrahim Jaffari emerged as the new prime minister. Everyone seemed to think he might do a good job.
September 2005 Everyone seemed to hate Ibrahim Jaffari. Meanwhile, I left the United States the day after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. Needless to say, I did not get on TV much. I embedded with the Army in Tal Afar and spent some time with Iraqi troops. The Iraqi soldiers seemed like they were getting the hang of things. We started to hear rumblings and complaints about sectarian issues.
Ongoing, see above for detailed status report But in general, patterns are emerging. Five months after the second election, Iraqi leaders still have yet to agree on a government (it is said to be coming soon, but I will believe it when I see it). The Iraqi military is having serious growing pains. And the sectarian divisions are widening. Nouri Maliki was just named prime minister. Everyone seems to think he might do a good job. See how this might work out?
I am happy to take questions if anyone has any about anything Iraq-related or otherwise. It isn't clear whether I will be able to answer them, but perhaps it will provide welcome relief from more entries about Fox and Thomas Jefferson.