We Cannot Get Out. They Are Coming.

[the_gneech]

The Iraqis know that something big and bad is coming, but most of them have nowhere to go. According to the NPR reports, a cab ride out of Dodge costs along the lines of $1200 American, way beyond the means of most Iraqis. Flee into the desert? They're better off to take their chances with the coalition troops, and hope they don't get saturation-bombed, or wiped out by their own government in a last burst of megalomania from Hussein -- who has made it clear time and again that he sees any and every civilian as basically a hostage.

I am worried for the troops, yes ... but at the same time, they are professionals. They knew the job was dangerous when they took it, so to speak. The people I'm really scared for is all those people who are stuck in the middle, in danger for nothing worse than having the misfortune to live in Baghdad at a time when you really don't want to do that. Their best hope is to find a hole and cower in it -- but that's a hell of a thing to bet your life on.

As for the people who went over to Iraq to be "voluntary human shields," you are idiots. I have no sympathy. If you really wanted to help the Iraqi people, you'd be bussing, sailing, driving, or smuggling them the hell OUT of there.

Here's hoping for a quick and clean end to what is fundamentally a bad situation all around.

-The Gneech

Comments

[makovette.livejournal.com]

I am highly hopeful that the bulk of the Iraqi forces will simply surrender. That would be a huge win for the Iraqi populace as well as for our forces.

The amount of fighting in Bahgdad will hopefully be very small and limited just to those units attached directly to Saddam and his mafia. Even then it's possible one of his own will shoot him, which would be a delicious end to a murderous dictator if you ask me.

Saddamn in exile in North Korea is another possibility. He's a narcissic coward at heart. He'd still try to be a puppet master in that case, but I'm confident he'll be far less potent there.

I'm crossing my fingers for a rapid collapse in either case.

CYa!
Mako

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

If he flees to N. Korea, they can have him, as far as I'm concerned. I don't want Bush chasing him there! Invading countries for their own good is a bad habit, if you catch my drift.

Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if N. Korea turned around and handed us his head on a platter in exchange for some sort of nuclear energy deal. For all their squawking, my impression is that N. Korea doesn't actually want to fight, so much as get some attention. They're in pretty bad shape over there.

-The Gneech

[koogrr.livejournal.com]

I believe most of the human shields left a couple weeks ago, when they found out they were shielding military installations and not the hospitals and schools they were hoping fore. There is an Iraqi blog floating around somewhere, and he describes things like that.

Agreed. Not fun, no options.

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

Really? That's the first good news I've heard about this whole thing!

Thanks! :)

-The Gneech

[mortonfox.livejournal.com]

Yeah, those "human shields". What a joke.

[torakiyoshi.livejournal.com]

Here's a present for you.

-=TK

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

Thanks! And here I didn't get you anything! -TG

[torakiyoshi.livejournal.com]

Da's awright. If you give out of obligation, it's no longer a gift, but a payment.

-=TK

Here is to a quick end

[wildfox.livejournal.com]

I agree Gneech. A quick end to a bad situation. I hope the US never has to go to war again any time soon.