Iraq:
What's to become of Iraq? That's the big question on everyone's minds now after the apparent departure of dictator Saddam Hussein and his henchmen (whether they've departed this earthly realm or just fled to some other country is not yet clear.....). The country is in a state of flux, with U.S. troops still hanging out looking for last-minute resistance, and the makeup of an interim government made up of various Iraqi contingents still to be determined.
In any case, it's safe to say that most Iraqis are happy to see the back of the Baath party and all its horrors. Life in Iraq has not been easy for ordinary Iraqis. Economic sanctions caused a lot of distress, and much of the country was never rebuilt after the 1991 bombings. It was very hard to make a living and feed your family, and there was the constant worry of displeasing the people in power who were known to torture and assassinate dissenters.
Now there's a big mess to clean up at the end of this year's "war" and lots of infrastructure to restore. It could be quite a while before anyone will consider Iraq as a place to go for a holiday. Then it will be an amazing place to visit. After all, Iraq has thousands of years of history, fascinating cultures, hospitable people, and variable scenery.
Books: The Demonic Comedy: Some Detours in the Baghdad of Saddam Hussein, by Paul William RobertsThis page last updated April 15, 2003.