There has been extreme pressure on the Iraqi parliament to perform. Often they can barely make quorum and many of the lawmakers are still on vacation, two weeks into session. But today they talked about two pressing issues.
The Committee of the annual Muslim pilgrimage, Hajj, offered up two trips to go to Hajj to each parliament member. Yes, I didn't know about this committee either. Also they are struggling to get the Iraqi soccer team, who won the Asia Cup this year, to come back to Iraq. Most of the team, that united Iraq in joy and pride in their win, live outside Iraq because of the danger. The parliament did the first read of a draft law that grants property to every team member, the admin staff and the Iraqi mission. Hmm, how does this help Iraq?
A lot of Iraqis wanted the soccer team, national heroes, to take over for the government, in which most Iraqis have lost confidence.
I'll tell you what no one discussed and what isn't on the agenda, softening the deBaathification law, passing an oil-revenue sharing law, amnesty laws, the problems with Shiite militia infiltration of security ministers and the list goes on. But legislators will go to Hajj, and people who don't live here will get property.
Laith, an Iraqi reporter here, watched the session on television. It is his dream to go to Hajj, but right now he also dreams about 24-hour electricity, no curfew, safety and air condition.
Just like politicians everywhere, they feather their own nests, worry about their own security, and care nothing for the ordinary people without whom they could not exist in their political ivory towers. Your work is excellent, and much appreciated. Thank you, and take care over there.
Posted by: RJ Adams | September 20, 2007 at 08:18 PM
Ms F- There was a posting this AM regarding Cholera arriving in Baghdad! Now, as horrible as that is, if true, included in the posting was the statement that there is a link to this fact? that chlorine , which is used in water purification plants, is in short supply because shipments of the chemical are being stopped from reaching Iraq by the US forces. Is this Possibly true? Please tell me that it is false. Please.
Posted by: billjpa | September 21, 2007 at 10:22 AM
I understand Iraqis really really want clean drinking water right now. I hope everyone there helps each other to filter and purify drinking water by boiling it for 10 minutes to kill bacteria. Eat fully cooked food. Don't eat raw vegetables. Do they have powdered mix like Koolaid in Iraq to help cover up the bad taste of the water? Do they have Gatorade to replace electrolytes if someone does get sick? It would be really helpful to read something on all the ways people in Iraq can protect themselves from waterborne infection and what to do if they do get sick. WHO has a lot on their website about this. Neighbors are going to have to help each other. I doubt there can be a centralized place for Iraqis in Baghdad to go for help due to the security situation.
Posted by: ljm | September 21, 2007 at 10:01 PM
I read something about the chlorine being stopped at the border with Jordan. I didn't read anything about US soldiers preventing the chlorine from getting where it needs to go for water treatment. The article did not say if the chlorine was still inside Jordan or what the holdup was.
Posted by: ljm | September 21, 2007 at 10:04 PM
WHO says they will send more antibiotics and medical supplies to Iraq if Iraq officials request it. That seems like a no brainer. When can't Iraq use more antibiotics and medical supplies? Each of the neighborhoods in Baghdad needs to be given the supplies, starting with the 20 that tested to not have enough chlorine in their water to kill cholera. Each neighborhood needs to have their own identified field clinic set up by the neighborhood, so the people there know where to go and that they can trust the people who are there to help them. I would hope WHO would send the tablets people need to use to purify water as not everyone may have the ability to boil water.
Posted by: ljm | September 22, 2007 at 01:11 AM
I read that WHO put the confirmed figures for cholera in Iraq at 2116 & 11 deaths. I have also read that this is a conservative figure, like others Ive read that the chlorine is held at the border, and taken form shelves. Whatever is going on is wrong... I dont know what the answer is but surely someone must know and start doing something to help the Iraqi people.
Posted by: gale | September 27, 2007 at 08:58 PM
I can see, in that situation, being inclined to take long vacations
Posted by: Chris | November 02, 2007 at 09:31 PM