Meanwhile, in Iraq...

Al-Sistani is calling for direct elections by years end. Actually, al-Sistani's election schedule doesn't differ that much from the that which I detailed in this screed of a week ago. In fact, it now seems likely that the U.S. is going to abide by the U.N. recommendations as long as the 30 June 2004 date is left intact for transfer to an interim power(most likely an enlarged version of the IGC)

Just so you don't become complacent regarding Iraq, here is the day's violence update:

• a bomb exploded Thursday near a police car in Baquoba, killing one policeman, injuring four others and damaging four police vehicles.



• A homemade bomb Thursday damaged an oil and gas line running between Beiji and Baghdad, a member of the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps told The Associated Press.



• On Wednesday, a U.S. Army OH-58 Kiowa helicopter crashed into the Euphrates River, killing its two pilots. Sanchez, the U.S. commander, said the helicopter clipped a power line and was not brought down by hostile fire. The pilots' deaths brought to 547 the number of American service members who have died since the Iraq war began on March 20. Most of the deaths have occurred since President Bush declared an end to active combat May 1.

Iraq is still a very dangerous place.

Unexploded cluster munitions have caused most of the post-conflict(?) casualties. A hospital director in Najaf said that families were playing with the munitions not knowing what they were. This continues to this day.

So, it looks like the U.S. worst fears are coming home to roost. We are not up to the task of even maintaining law and order, or basic services in post-war Iraq. We were told that we would stay in Iraq as long as it takes for democracy to take hold in Iraq. Iraq, as it is today, we were told, would not happen.

Let us hope that the people of Iraq, who deserve none of this, will forgive us for the carnage we have inflicted upon them. Let us hope that we have the patience, and the courage to follow through on our promises to the Iraqi people.

Thus far, our record has not been an enviable one.