The Crocker Is Half Empty

In his testimony, Ambassador Ryan Crocker is doing his best to put a positive face on the political and sectarian mess that represents Iraq and specifically, Baghdad. That's his job. But it's deceptive not to note that the neighborhoods of Baghdad have been "cleansed" according to religious sect. Where once Sunni and Shia lived in mixed communities, they have moved to homogenous neighborhoods. Many have simply fled Iraq altogether, resulting in the migration of over 1.1 million civilians. Added to their misery is the failure of their government to provide basic services - - from electricity, to trash removal, to health services. This NY Times article sums up the disparity between reality and Crocker's testimony crock.