It's 117 degrees in Iraq & there's no water

[Hawaii Hiker]

What a read..I couldn't find link to post as attachment, so entire text below, sorry about the length..



BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Much of the Iraqi capital was without running water Thursday and had been for at least 24 hours, compounding the misery in a war zone and the blistering heat at the height of summer...Residents and local officials said large sections of the city had been virtually dry for six days because the electricity grid can't provide enough power to run water purification and pumping stations.

Oh, and did I mention it's 117 degrees in Baghdad this week? Of course, it is a dry heat.... which is one of those good news, bad news facts. This year it's extra dry heat. Here's an inconvenient fact – it's drier in Baghdad this August than it was five Augusts ago when Saddam the Sadist ran the place. Back then, (before the Iraqis were liberated,) they had water every day. They also had electricity at least 18 hours every day.

Today Iraqis consider themselves lucky if they get 2-hours of juice a day.

That was before August 1. Now it's down to an hour of electricity a day, and no water. Not a drop. Not for even a minute a day.

And did I mention it's 117 degrees there now? So hot that even the pampered members of Iraq's useless-as-tits-on-a-boar parliament skipped town for the month.
Meanwhile, back in Washington, the US Congress is about to bug out for a month as well. And you can be sure President Bush will be flying air-condition Air Force One, well-stocked with bottled water, to Texas for his annual Crawford ranch vacation as well.

At least the Iraqi parliament had an excuse most of us can at least understand, if not approve of – it's hotter than billy-blue blazes in Iraq in August, and they're tired of dodging hourly assassination attempts.

What's Washington's excuse for skipping town?

Simple.. in a word their excuse is ... “Petraeus.”


Democrat or Republican, just ask them what the hell they're waiting for before calling an end to Bush's Vietnam and, to a person, they'll chirp “General Petraeus.” They'll explain that they understand you are hearing a lot of bad news about what's going on in Iraq, but that such “anecdotal” reports are not useful. They are waiting to hear the real deal from our man on the ground there, General David Petraeus, when he reports to Congress in September.

Well, should you run into one your elected reps during, what we can assume will be their cool and well-hydrated August vacation, you might mention that, unless the 8-million severely under-hydrated folks in Baghdad are lying about their current “living” conditions, we don't need to wait for General Petraeus' report. We already know enough to know that that the US's misadventure in Iraq has failed.

o Failed to improve the lives of the Iraqi people,
o Failed to produce a government that can resolve a single one of Iraq's pressing problems – or for that matter a single un-pressing problem.
o Failed to save Iraqi lives, having killed more innocent civilians in any given recent month than Saddam did during his most grouchy periods.
o Failed to rebuild what we destroyed during our invasion of the country
o Failed to jump start Iraq's only source of income, it's oil industry
o Failed to disarm Iraq's sectarian militias
o Failed to reverse the rising tide of ethnic cleansing in Sunni, Shia and Kurdish regions.
o Failed to restrain the growing influence of Iran over Iraqi affairs.

And now we learn that we've even failed as Baghdad's Gunga Din. After four years, $600 billion dollars, 3700 dead US soldiers and who knows how many tens of thousands of dead Iraqis, we/they can't even provide the hot, thirsty, and increasingly dirty, Baghdadians the most abundant resource on earth... water.

So it's a 117 degrees in Baghdad, and the public water system is dry as a bone.

Let's repeat that until it sinks in:

It's 117 degrees in Baghdad and there's no water.

It's 117 degrees in Baghdad and there's no water.


What could General Petreaus possibly tell us in September that would mitigate, explain or justify that single fact? What could he possibly report that would convince congress and the American people that 136,000 US troops and half a trillion dollars of our treasure have produced, or can produce, positive results for Iraq or the Iraqi people when one month before his testimony it's 117 degrees in Baghdad and there's no water service in that nation's capitol city?

How can he explain away an elected Iraqi parliament that leaves it's own people in such dire – life threatening – conditions to go on vacation for a month? A parliament that since it was elected has produced not a single piece of useful legislation. A parliament whose members, family, friends and militias have stolen more US aid money than they've invested into their nation's infrastructure. How do you think they're paying for those vacations aboard – trips they try to disguise as official business or for medical treatment. Even when the Iraqi parliament has not declared a mass vacation, up to half of them don't show up for work because they are off gallivanting the globe.

"More than half the members of parliament, ministers and senior officials are on vacation, sick leave or on official assignment abroad" at any given time, a government official said on condition of anonymity. "It is common practice now that they spend more time abroad than in their offices. The main reason is their fear of being targeted inside the country." (Full Story)


So if you are unlucky enough to run into one of our vacationing members of Congress this August, here's all you have to do. Walk right up to them and, when they reach out to shake your hand, grab and don't let go. Look them right in the face and recite the following:

“It's 117 degrees in Baghdad and there's no water.

It's 117 degrees in Baghdad and there's no water.

It's 117 degrees in Baghdad and there's no water.

What the holy hell are you waiting for?”

[babylonsister]

1. No water FOR SIX DAYS in most of Bagdad:

http://www.iraqslogger.com/index.php/post/3811/Western_Baghdad_Loses_Water_in_Summer_Heat

[EFerrari]

2. The Iraqi parliment is trying to fend off American oil companies

who have them in a stranglehold and are intent on ripping them off. So fucking please, can we stop attacking them for defending themselves?!

[Brigid]

3. May God one day forgive the Bush regime . . .

for what they have done to these people. :grr:

[Subdivisions]

4. GOD DAMN the bush regime! I can't even begin to imagine

the pain and suffering those poor people are having to endure and will endure at those temperatures.

It's 117 degrees in Iraq & there's no water.

Indeed.


An Iraqi sprays water from a tank bearing the image of firebrand cleric Moqtada al-Sadr on believers as they perfom the weekly Friday prayers under the heat of the sun.


Look closely at that image. The country with the 3rd largest oil reserves on the planet. Not a single bottled water.

[Hawaii Hiker]

6. Even if there WAS water & air condition:

That wouldn't make up for this:

o Failed to improve the lives of the Iraqi people,
o Failed to produce a government that can resolve a single one of Iraq's pressing problems – or for that matter a single un-pressing problem.
o Failed to save Iraqi lives, having killed more innocent civilians in any given recent month than Saddam did during his most grouchy periods.
o Failed to rebuild what we destroyed during our invasion of the country
o Failed to jump start Iraq's only source of income, it's oil industry
o Failed to disarm Iraq's sectarian militias
o Failed to reverse the rising tide of ethnic cleansing in Sunni, Shia and Kurdish regions.
o Failed to restrain the growing influence of Iran over Iraqi affairs.

[liberal renegade]

9. now why would he go and do that?

[WinkyDink]

22. Well, then, what's Hell for?

[Brigid]

25. It's for those who refuse to repent of their sins.

So the Bush crowd is likely headed there.

[defendandprotect]

32. How could MSM not have been talking about GENOCIDE . . .?????

They may go all the way to genocide here . . . ??? !!!!!!

[Subdivisions]

5. I am gonna blast this to every email address I have, including

to my state and federal representatives. I suggest every person who reads this post do the same.

This is absolutely disgraceful and it has to STOP.

[flyarm]

7. CAN I SAY THIS..I HOPE * DROWNS DRINKING A GLASS OR BOTTLE OF WATER!!

I HOPE HE CHOKES TO DEATH ON WATER!!

i feel shame..nothing but shame that these fuckers are the leaders of our country!

what an awful shame i have today..

fly

[Subdivisions]

10. How many will die from heat related causes while our

governments are basking in liesure and luxury?

How many died in Europe during the recent heat wave? And they had water.

It's 117 degrees in Iraq and there's no water.

[LeftishBrit]

8. Tragic and criminal

However bad things were under Saddam, this war has made things much worse.

Damn Bush and Cheney to hell - and their collaborator Blair.

[liberal renegade]

11. I'm sure every last Iraqi

would be glad to have Saddam back... He was an obvious dickhead to some of his citizens. They are in living hell thanks to Bush and every sorry motherfucker that voted for him....

[Brigid]

12. We who have been against the Iraq war from the beginning . . .

are still in a difficult position, even though the majority of the country is now with us. We have been right all along, and yet we still get treated as if we were the lunatic fringe. I don't get it. :shrug:

[ninkasi]

13. K&R

This needs one more vote to make to greatest. It's 117 degrees in Baghdad, and there's no water. Thank, you, HH, for your powerful post. I don't think I've welcomed you to DU yet, so I'm doing it now.:hi:

[ananda]

14. Geez!

The electricity grid is collapsing.
The temperature is soaring beyond belief.
Water is endangered.

But the surge is working. (acid dripping sarcasm)

[Bobbieo]

15. It's 110 degrees in Yuma - we have running water. electricity and

air conditioning and I'm still miserable. How awful for these poor people in Iraq!!! Yes, how many them are dying from the heat - the old and very young? I'm having a hard time believing there is such thing as a merciful God!

[Subdivisions]

20. If there is...

He must be on vacation. And his vacations are MUCH longer than US or Iraqi government holidays.

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[beberocks]

17. Can you say genocide?

I've always suspected that the phrase "fight them over
there so we don't have to fight them here" really means
"kill them all" in the little twisted minds of the
GOP. We've become the Nazis of the 21st century.

[Subdivisions]

21. I think you're on to something there beberocks. Please allow

me to be the first to welcome you to DU.

[spotbird]

23. Who needs gas chambers?

This is more efficient.

[KoKo]

18. Meanwhile...the COOL THINGY/Bling/Bling for all of us is "Carry Water Bottle for Creds!

while the Folks we INVADED are not allowed WATER OR FOOD and live in circumstances that would have been DISGUSTING under even SADDAM!

HOW CAN WE JUSTIFY THIS? :cry: :grr:

[Triana]

19. *cough* Umm, Google, much?

Here's the link:

http://www.pacificfreepress.com/content/view/1492/81/

[Babel_17]

34. Thanks! I have a couple more ....

http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/IZXX0008.html

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070803/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_070802125014

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070804/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_070802125035

My question: We decided the Iraqi people deserved democracy/freedom from Saddam but do we owe them a massive outpouring of cash and resources to alleviate situations like the above?

Is it up to them to turn things around or do they have a moral claim on us to be doing much more?

Cutting to the chase I think that in a few years it's going to get real ugly for american politics when it comes time to slash the budget to pay for our share of all the related costs of the war and its consequences.

Too much stuff seems to be off the table for the presidential primary debates.

P.S. I work outdoors, often while laboring in/with hot asphalt, but even my mind boggles at what our troops are going through yet again this summer in Iraq. Wearing all the armor and protective gear and clothing while hauling, what, 80 pounds (or better) of weapons and essentials, is an epic task. Amazing people.

P.P.S. Answering my own question: We need to get all the skilled professionals who've fled Iraq back into the country somehow. And we need to employ many thousands of technicians from all the countries of world in an effort to get Iraq back on a sustainable track to recovery. The country needs jobs and work projects. We need to think in the small and medium terms of a disaster recovery. Give the people a palpable stake in the reconstruction.

The cost would be astronomical and it would require the type of leadership Lincoln demonstrated when the chips were down.

I'm sure it could be done simpler and cheaper but you'd need high level administrators with some mad skills. We've got some great people on the ground working with the Iraqis, if we could generate enough genuine enthusiasm and cooperation from top to bottom we could maybe tip things toward a positive direction.

What do we owe the Iraqis? We owe them an honest effort, not one based on face saving lies and a refusal to accept responsibility and the truth.

Given that Bush won't provide the essential leadership we who are in opposition to him are faced with excruciating choices.

[snappyturtle]

24. Time to shut off the tap into the WH! and the Pentagon! and

Congress! Let them experience what no water means....even then it isn't bad enough because I'm fairly certain they have a/c. I think they're (the evil cabal types) are driving the people out of Bagdhad so they can finish bombing it to hell....imho.

[Brigid]

26. We need to shut off the electricity too.

Then maybe they'll get the idea. :evilgrin:

[snappyturtle]

27. True! n/t

[Auntie Bush]

28. K&R It's 117 degrees in Baghdad and there's no water!

This also deserves repeating.

o Failed to improve the lives of the Iraqi people,
o Failed to produce a government that can resolve a single one of Iraq's pressing problems – or for that matter a single un-pressing problem.
o Failed to save Iraqi lives, having killed more innocent civilians in any given recent month than Saddam did during his most grouchy periods.
o Failed to rebuild what we destroyed during our invasion of the country
o Failed to jump start Iraq's only source of income, it's oil industry
o Failed to disarm Iraq's sectarian militias
o Failed to reverse the rising tide of ethnic cleansing in Sunni, Shia and Kurdish regions.
o Failed to restrain the growing influence of Iran over Iraqi affairs.

Good job, well done!

[ElsewheresDaughter]

29. this was planned from day one of the * admin..article from Sept. 2001

http://www.commondreams.org/views01/0808-07.htm

[CGowen]

30. From a rich country to stone age in just under 20 years (Mission Accomplished) n/t

[Turner Ashby]

31. It is impossible

For there not to be massive deaths from dehydration and heat exhaustion with the aged and young in these circumstances. Are we adding that to the daily death toll?

[CGowen]

35. There will probable be another study with numbers

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/10/AR2006101001442_pf.html

Study Claims Iraq's 'Excess' Death Toll Has Reached 655,000

By David Brown
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 11, 2006; A12

A team of American and Iraqi epidemiologists estimates that 655,000 more people have died in Iraq since coalition forces arrived in March 2003 than would have died if the invasion had not occurred.

The estimate, produced by interviewing residents during a random sampling of households throughout the country, is far higher than ones produced by other groups, including Iraq's government.

It is more than 20 times the estimate of 30,000 civilian deaths that President Bush gave in a speech in December. It is more than 10 times the estimate of roughly 50,000 civilian deaths made by the British-based Iraq Body Count research group.

The surveyors said they found a steady increase in mortality since the invasion, with a steeper rise in the last year that appears to reflect a worsening of violence as reported by the U.S. military, the news media and civilian groups. In the year ending in June, the team calculated Iraq's mortality rate to be roughly four times what it was the year before the war.

Of the total 655,000 estimated "excess deaths," 601,000 resulted from violence and the rest from disease and other causes, according to the study. This is about 500 unexpected violent deaths per day throughout the country.

[defendandprotect]

Of course, the United Nations knows what's going on - - impossible to stop US?????

[MetaTrope]

33. It's the Hurricane Katrina genocide plan, just on a bigger scale

[RestoreGore]

36. Another Darfur

As we sit and watch.