Report from a civilian contractor just back from Iraq

Had dinner with a friend the other night. One of his high school chums just made it back after a year in Iraq.

Some of the highlights of their ensuing conversations.

1. He was never able to do the job he was hired to do because it was always too dangerous to leave his hotel room. At times he doubted he would make it back alive.

2. Illness is rampant among the troops and American civilians (not to mention Iraqis) because the drinking water is unsafe. Sanitation is poor to non-existent and nothing is being done to rectify the situation.

3. The troops are low on ammunition and low on food.

4. The Iraqis hate our guts and want us gone NOW. (This sounds a harsh but I gather the guy is still quite emotional.)

I know this is not news to anyone who lurks or posts here. But it is an eyewitness account from someone sympathetic to the Bush cause BEFORE he went to Baghdad.

Didn't Negroponte just ask to transfer a few billion dollars from sanitation and water projects to more doo-dads for the imperial palace--I mean, the U.S. Embassy?

The only difference for the Iraqi people is the absence of the beret.

We don't even have the moral authority to talk about rape rooms and mass graves.

I am betting the Imperial Palace has all of the necessary accoutrements flown in from Kuwait for their little city in the slums. Remember when Viceroy Bremer used to have his shirts sent for laundering there?

but the bushies* would have us think it was all blue sky and roses. This needs to be spread to counter the manure they spread on the lies.

and the reality check on what the media is reporting.