Buttermilk & Molasses

AN NGO PERSPECTIVE

Stumbled across yet another web log from Baghdad, this one written by an American with a crazy adopted cat who works for an NGO. The American. The cat just knocks things off of shelves. "The View from Baghdad" is well-written and casually informative. He cat's name is "mushkilla," Arabic for "trouble".

CLEVER, CLEVER BUSH

The New York Times > International > Middle East >Maybe it's time to admit that President Bush is smarter than we think. Take the situation in Iraq, which was all primed for civil war as the handover date of June 30 approached. Thanks to this week's explosive decompression in a dozen cities throughout the country, and the deaths of hundreds, Iraqi nationalism is hearty and hale. It really is all about bringing people together.

When the United States invaded Iraq a year ago, one of its chief concerns was preventing a civil war between Shiite Muslims, who make up a majority in the country, and Sunni Muslims, who held all the power under Saddam Hussein.

Now the fear is that the growing uprising against the occupation is forging a new and previously unheard of level of cooperation between the two groups — and the common cause is killing Americans.
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"We have orders from our leader to fight as one and to help the Sunnis," said Nimaa Fakir, a 27-year-old teacher and foot soldier in the Mahdi Army, a Shiite militia. "We want to increase the fighting, increase the killing and drive the Americans out. To do this, we must combine forces."

This new Shiite-Sunni partnership was flourishing in Baghdad on Thursday. Convoys of pickup trucks with signature black Shiite flags flapping from their bumpers hauled sacks of grain, flour, sugar and rice into Sunni mosques.

The food donations were coming from Shiite families, in many cases from people with little to spare. And they were headed to the besieged residents of Falluja, a city that has now become the icon of the resistance, especially after the bombing on Wednesday of a mosque compound there.

"Sunni, Shia, that doesn't matter anymore," said Sabah Saddam, a 32-year-old government clerk who took the day off to drive one of the supply trucks. "These were artificial distinctions. The people in Falluja are starving. They are Iraqis and they need our help."

DECOMPRESSION

Probably the most astounding statistical look at the Bush administration is presented in a Washington Post article about the situation in Iraq. I truly can't comprehend how this man has any popular support.

This is Bush's 33rd visit to his ranch since becoming president. He has spent all or part of 233 days on his Texas ranch since taking office, according to a tally by CBS News. Adding his 78 visits to Camp David and his five visits to Kennebunkport, Maine, Bush has spent all or part of 500 days in office at one of his three retreats, or more than 40 percent of his presidency.

IN A FIELD OF STONES

Finally, the new bed is complete -- ringed with liriope, candytuft and rocks; anchored by a small redbud and red maple; planted with about a hundred summer bulbs and scores of wildflowers; and centered by a bird bath my mom made for me.

IN A FIELD OF STONES

Finally, the new bed is complete -- ringed with liriope, candytuft and rocks; anchored by a small redbud and red maple; planted with about a hundred summer bulbs and scores of wildflowers; and centered by a bird bath my mom made for me.

SQUATTERS

Imagine my amazement when I woke this morning to discover a family of daffodils and tulips had taken occupancy in my front yard overnight.

SQUATTERS

Imagine my amazement when I woke this morning to discover a family of daffodils and tulips had taken occupancy in my front yard overnight.

SPROUT!

The first wildflower seed pummels its way through the dark earth to greet the dawn.

SPROUT!

The first wildflower seed pummels its way through the dark earth to greet the dawn.

THE WINDOWS FLOURISH

And to think I wanted to remove the windowboxes. Apparently, they make the place look quaint.