It’s Been a Long, Hot Summer
|
|
Like many folks here in the Midwest, I've been among those to complain about this summers' oppressive heat. But with plenty of running water and enough electricity to power the air conditioner, life is more than bearable. So even though stepping outside is more like a trip the sauna, this summer has brought us the usual amusements and diversions. From the Fourth of July fireworks and family outings to chemically-enhanced ball players, crappy summer movies and drunken celebrity joyrides it's been pretty much of an All-American summer.
Speaking of All-American summer pastimes, the Congress has left Washington on its annual August recess, ostensibly to press the fresh of local constituents and escape the interminable heat of Foggy Bottom. Following the lead of its American counterpart, the Iraqi Parliament decided it was time to escape of the summer heat of Baghdad. Under any normal scenario, these two events would not be cause for universal alarm. Only the summer of 2007 is not normal by any stretch of the imagination.
Leading up to the grand legislative exit, the situation in Iraq has gone from bad to disastrous. This despite the recent Administration pronouncements that the war on Iraq is being won and life for the Iraqi people is steadily improving.
While the average Iraqi citizen swelters in the desert heat, the country's electrical service grid is near collapse leaving many water purification plants and sewage treatment facilities without power. As a result, supplies of drinkable water have nearly dried up and much of Baghdad has been without fresh water for almost two weeks. Sectarian killings are said to be at an all-time high and there are reports of nearly 4 million Iraqis experiencing food shortages. According to OXFAM, 2 million Iraqis have fled the country and an estimated 1.5 million have been displaced from their homes setting the stage for monumental humanitarian crisis.
I wonder how members of Congress chose Baghdad as a summer vacation destination - without a contingent of heavily armed troops, full body armor, water and plenty of combat air cover.
Speaking of All-American summer pastimes, the Congress has left Washington on its annual August recess, ostensibly to press the fresh of local constituents and escape the interminable heat of Foggy Bottom. Following the lead of its American counterpart, the Iraqi Parliament decided it was time to escape of the summer heat of Baghdad. Under any normal scenario, these two events would not be cause for universal alarm. Only the summer of 2007 is not normal by any stretch of the imagination.
Leading up to the grand legislative exit, the situation in Iraq has gone from bad to disastrous. This despite the recent Administration pronouncements that the war on Iraq is being won and life for the Iraqi people is steadily improving.
While the average Iraqi citizen swelters in the desert heat, the country's electrical service grid is near collapse leaving many water purification plants and sewage treatment facilities without power. As a result, supplies of drinkable water have nearly dried up and much of Baghdad has been without fresh water for almost two weeks. Sectarian killings are said to be at an all-time high and there are reports of nearly 4 million Iraqis experiencing food shortages. According to OXFAM, 2 million Iraqis have fled the country and an estimated 1.5 million have been displaced from their homes setting the stage for monumental humanitarian crisis.
I wonder how members of Congress chose Baghdad as a summer vacation destination - without a contingent of heavily armed troops, full body armor, water and plenty of combat air cover.
