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Iraq | |
Key Bridges Are Reopened in Baghdad | |
2003-04-12 | |
U.S. forces reopened two strategic bridges Saturday in the heart of Baghdad and crowds of looters surged across - taking advantage of access to new territory that had not already been plundered. U.S. forces did nothing to stop them. Iraqis expressed increasing frustration over lawlessness in the capital city, which continued for a fourth straight day since the arrival of U.S. troops and the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime. Looters have ransacked hospitals and schools and set fire to several government buildings. ``The Americans have disappointed us all. This country will never be operational for at least a year or two,'' said Abbas Reta, 51, an engineer and father of five. ``I've seen nothing new since Saddam's fall. All that we have seen is looting. The Americans are responsible. One round from their guns and all the looting would have stopped.''
I can understand protecting the hospitals and ordinary citizens. But Saddam's apparatus and the old government? Why should we care? Bands of men removed wheels from damaged cars surrounding the presidential compound - even cars that were charred and overturned. Others dragged cars away, or plundered them for parts. Al-Jazeera's correspondent in Baghdad, Maher Abdallah, described the situation as ``tragic,'' and suggested it could have been prevented. ``They have ousted the regime and the authority, and in such an urban area where there is no tribal authority or rule, chaos should have been expected to break in such a way,'' Abdallah said. So put on an armband and start directing traffic. U.S. officials insist the restoration of law and order will become a higher priority. The State Department said Friday it was sending 26 police and judicial officers to Iraq, the first component of a team that will eventually number about 1,200. The officers will be part of a group led by Jay Garner, the retired general chosen by the Bush administration to run the initial Iraqi civil administration under American occupation. | |
Posted by:Steve White |
#1 For the most part it looks like the looters are just a volunteer cleanup crew. Most of the stuff will end up in the Bazzar or E-bay. We just transfered a lot of public assets to private hands. |
Posted by: john 2003-04-12 20:24:07 |