DEATH CHASES US ALL AROUND: A CAROL FOR VOICES

Another Christmas come and gone-- The powerdown on most of the island is now up but many of the fellow travellers who endured the power disruption now say returning to full electrical power felt confusing and strange sort of like getting your sea legs again-- Asked point blank whether the cold and dark powerdown world of no heat no lights no water was actually the 'real' world, most agreed though some not without looking over their shoulder to see who might be within earshot-- Many averred the experience an eye-opening one and some said their situation led to a different view on Christmas itself becoming less obsessed by the commercial driven demand to shop til you drop-- Other Islanders embraced the adventure as a chance to test survival skills as well as reconnecting to long dormant friendships or certain local aspects of nature the electicity-driven entertainment world usually drowns out-- The swimming pool received more usage than usual-- All in all it could have been worse-- It could have been Iraq--

The greater Middle East is now home however temporarily to an estimated 2 million Iraqi refugees while another half million too poor to emigrate wander inside the confines of Iraq having abandoned their own homes in search for safe haven wherever they find it--One former teacher added his dejected voice to the Christmas choir thusly "I wish I could flee to any third world country and work in garbage collection rather than stay here and live like a frightened rat," Adel Mohammed Aziz, "We are all living in fear for our lives; death chases us all around."

According to the United Nations nearly forty thousand Iraqis leave every month-- Victory there is not around the corner for anybody-- "In areas where Sunnis are a majority, death squads attack in hundreds, taking advantage of curfews and using government police cars," says Sunni Mahmood Abdulla "When we defend ourselves and our homes, they shell us with mortars and Kaytousha missiles. All of this takes place under the eyes of Americans and Iraqi government officials." Um Rheem a young mother from the Shaab district joins the chorus, "We cannot go to work, cannot go to pray in our mosques, and cannot send our children to schools," adding "Many Sunni men have been killed by Shia death squads who have the full support of the government and Americans."

Still more testimony to their abject situation "We cannot open our shops for more than three to four hours a day," intones a carpet seller from Rasheed Street "Many of my colleagues have been abducted for ransom or killed for sectarian reasons on the way to work. We expect death every minute." -- This from a political analyst at Baghdad University "Resistance fighters are Iraqis who are trying to put an end to this vicious occupation" but it was the Americans who "ignited sectarian war so that they reduce the action of national resistance, but the result came to be the opposite, and they are being hit harder and more often."

This resembles a dirge rather than a carol but Americans are adding their voices to reigning confusion surrounding this disaster-- The problematical tactics of a fresh Surge occupy the political and mediasphere in DC in a disengenuous air-- Many news outlets have quoted many, quite a few of them anonymous, sources as to who and how many are in favor and those who are not in favor of injecting a surge of more troops into the house of carnage called Baghdad-- Robert Gates new Def. Sec told reporters he has asked General Casey to make specific recommendations on how to improve security in Iraq and to work with Iraqi military leaders to "put flesh on those bones" of a new security plan."-- Apparently we have a new security plan but barebones as they say void of muscle or definition but as proof more folks are coming around to the Surge "People are warming to the realization that some sort of surge is necessary," said another military official. Is this a strawman's quote?????--

Stop the Post!!!--A new story from the Christian Science Monitor with regard to the meeting held over the weekend at Camp David between Bush, Gates and Casey sheds differing light on the subject-- Casey appears to be open for more troops but refused to formally request them of Bush while Gates is portrayed a unready to play any of his cards yet--

Other military men not fearful of stating their positions include Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker, the Army chief of staff, "We would not surge without a purpose," Schoomaker said recently. "And that purpose should be measurable."

Gen. James T. Conway, the new commandant of the Marine Corps and a member of the Joint Chiefs, "We would fully support, I think, as the Joint Chiefs, the idea of putting more troops into Iraq if there is a solid military reason for doing that, if there is something to be gained," he said. "We do not believe that just adding numbers for the sake of adding numbers - just thickening the mix - is necessarily the way to go."

Further adding to the general hubbub Conway went on to warn that adding troops now might mean the military readiness to deploy future troublespots elsewhere in the world would be diminished, "You better make sure your timing is right because if you commit the reserve for something other than a decisive win or to stave off defeat, then you have essentially shot your bolt."

With bated breath the New Year awaits........!!!!