ANOTHER VIEW FROM THE FRONT

Another piece from John Galt. It will help you gain perspective to know that John lives and works inside the Green Zone.

He wrote this on Friday...soon after the local hotheads have "vowed" to storm and retake the Green Zone. He doesn't come across as terribly concerned about that particular promise.

He also thinks little of the coverage as well.

Well. Very quiet. The bad guys promised to attack and occupy the Green Zone, take over the major cities and storm the Sheraton hotel.

I was on the back veranda of the Palace after supper when we heard the mortar fired across the river to our right. Stood there for a bit & then heard it land off to our left. Later we determined that it landed near the Sheraton. So all last night we saw repeated film of one darn mortar hole at the tennis courts next to the Sheraton. Over & over. Then the announcers ask various talking heads – Is it over? Have we failed?

One mortar produces a lot of gloom & doom.

The 1AD reacted well to the threats yesterday in Baghdad. First, they went around with loud speakers & said that there would be no rallies, etc. The Coalition militaries cordoned off the key center where Saddam’s statue was toppled. That is a big PR place for all the western news although it’s really a minor location. Same with the Sheraton hotel. The foreign press is at the Sheraton so the bad guys were going to storm it. New principle of war: Don’t attack the military – attack the press.

Also the Iraqi police were broadcasting from their cars that anyone seen on the streets with an AK would be shot. No warning. Gee – no one on the streets.

Marines are clobbering the bad guys at Falluja. The Marines offered a unilateral cease of hostilities but the bad guys keep shooting, even shooting their own humanitarian vehicles. The Marines resumed offensive operations.

This weekend is also a big anniversary when the Moslems remember a martyr. There will be a traditional march to the main mosque. Again, threats by the hot heads about a big rally to thow out the Coalition. Should be interesting to see how it plays out.

Iraqi security. Still doing fairly well. Not perfect & we will keep training more to bring them up to strength. But, again, not the gloom and doom that is preached on US TV.

Coalition has retaken many cities. Some interesting sights as the main population is glad to get rid of the thugs that brought about the latest violence.

But then, that's not a sound bite or film clip.

Anyway, it was a good Friday.