Three Years On

Iraqi honeymoon long over, three years after war

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Hawra and Haider began their married life cowering under the "shock and awe" American bombardment of Baghdad in March 2003.

When it was over, and Saddam Hussein had fled, they believed "Operation Iraqi Freedom" had delivered a bright new future, free of fear and the economic sanctions that impoverished them. Three years on and Iraq is a vortex of instability, a place full of fear and death.

Three years on, as they celebrate their third wedding anniversary, those dreams have died as insurgency and rising sectarian violence have brought new fears, and more poverty.

Three years on and what to the coalition of the willingly bribed have to show for it?

A country riven with sectarian strife, a country with little or no infrastructure, where it is hard to get the basics in life like clean water or electricty.

This weekend was also marked by anti-war protests around the world.



In London, crowds filled Trafalgar Square to demonstrate their opposition to the war.

For an on the ground perspective of the march you can see photos here

A great post by Riverbend - Three Years...

Makes Bush's speech seem vapid

The US president has urged Iraqi leaders to form a government of national unity as quickly as possible, insisting that progress had been made on the political and military fronts in the country.

In a radio address on the eve of the third anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq on Saturday, George Bush urged Americans growing increasingly impatient with the war to resist a temptation to retreat, even as he acknowledged the prospect of more bloodshed.

"I urge them to continue their work to put aside their differences, to reach out across political, religious and sectarian lines," he said of Iraqi politicians, still deadlocked over who will lead a new government three months after polls.

Fuck you Mr. Bush and your on purpose immoral war!