Two years ago Wall Street Journal reporter Farnaz Fassihi blew our minds with a samizdat email from Baghdad, quickly circulated everywhere, showing it was impossible to live in a normal way in that city. Old news now.
Today a Journal reporter does it again. Neil King, diplomatic correspondent, on CSpan’s Washington Journal this morning, relates the latest saying on the Baghdad street: “I’d rather have a fever than death.”
What’s that mean? They’d rather have Saddam back than what they’re experiencing now. A chance of dying every time they step out the door, the loss of the most basic amenities. “These people have electricity four hours a day,” King said. “They can’t keep meat in the refrigerator.”
