Since the topple of Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq we are seeing that country move toward a western style democracy. There have been some stumbles but with the implementation of just five little things the US/UK coalition will help the Iraqi’s become a world class democracy:

1. The first thing that the US military to see that a Democracy is ensured is doing is making sure the airwaves are sending out the proper messages to the people of Iraq. Control of the airwaves is essential for this.
2. There is also a need to stop the violence in the streets and make sure that all Iraqis are safe by controlling who has firearms.
3. Housing must be found for our soldiers who are keeping the peace in Iraq until an Iraqi democracy is formed.
4. Of course it goes without saying that we must have full cooperation in our search for and seizure of weapons of mass destruction and we must not be restrained from searching anywhere for evidence that could lead us to those items that we seek.
5. Iraq’s oil revenues must be confiscated by the US/UK forces for the time being to pay for the rebuilding of the infrasturcture of Iraq and to see that the money is used for the good of the Iraqi people.

I suppose we could come up with five more but this is a good start toward a democracy.

Stupidity and incompetence does much more to damage the United State’s reputation abroad than any secret imperialistic designs. For Pete’s sake, haul the stuff off into the desert to get rid of it. Keeping this stuff around the civilian population can only lead to opportunities for mischief.

	QUSAY SADDAM HUSAYN AL-TIKRITI Special Security Organization (SSO) Supervisor/Ba’th Party Military Bureau Deputy Chairman

Want a deck of those Iraqi playing cards? Lord knows I’ve been inundated with enough spam offereing those cards that some folks out there must be wanting them. Well, you don’t have to give those spammers any of your money to get the cards. Print them yourself by downloading the deck from the Department of Defense website.

My brother is in the printing business, I think I’ll see if he’ll print up a few decks for me. Heck, with his equipment he would have to print up a few thousand decks to make it worthwhile to even begin. Maybe I’ll get him to go into the playing card business with me. If we hurry we can just make the last couple of days of demand for these cards.

This is going around a few other places but I felt compelled to comment on it also. Eason Jordan gives us a very good reason of why the lives of a few often must be sacrificed for the lives of many. It isn’t something that any one wants on their hands but sometimes our actions of protecting a few acquantances has the consequence of putting an entire country in jeapordy.

Dear Raed is a blog published from Bahgdad. It’s still being updated. Todays entry made me stop and think.

On BBC we are watching scenes of Iraqis surrendering. My youngest cousin was muttering "what shame" to himself, yes it is better for them to do that but still seeing them carrying that white flag makes something deep inside you cringe.

I don’t think Salam Pax, the owner of the blog, wants to see the Iraqi army engage the Coalition forces but I can understand how seeing his fellow countrymen surrendering could not set well with him. I feel for their self-esteem after this.