Topic: Scary Stuff
The New York Times had an interesting little article about the new Iraqi government. A reporter interviewed an Iraqi who was upset because the Kurds and the Shia have been unable to strike a political deal regarding the shape of the new government. She said, "A state without a government is like sheep without a shepherd, and in such a situation the wolves can play very easily. . . . Not having a government is causing a great deal of harm to the Iraqi people and to the interests of Iraq."

If the new Iraqi politicians needed any help understanding this point, yesterday's mortar attack inside the International Zone should have helped drive that point home. As I sat under my desk waiting to make sure the mortar attacks weren't going to hit my compound, I wondered when the Iraqi government and the Americans would start getting serious about what needs to be done to make this country safe once again.