CODEL Lynch

Umm Qasr, Basrah Governorate

Overcoming corruption at the port will be difficult.

Impressive to see British in partnership with us.

Basra

'As Basra goes, so goes the rest of Iraq.'

Basra had been a financial hub for Iraq, more "western" than the rest of Iraq. The hope is that Basra will emerge again as a cosmopolitan place.

JAM is still shelling. Not as frequently as before, though.

 

Baghdad

Explosives lab

The American-led effort against IEDs is impressive. In my first trip to Iraq, I remember being struck by the determination of the American personnel to defeat the threat. The explosives lab is an impressive combination of military and civilian folks determined to win. 

Sadr City shows incredible capacity and courage of the American forces. They say it shows the determination of the Iraqis. So I told General Petraeus.

Ambassador Crocker agreed that a country needs a narrative. I expressed the concern that they are yet dependent on the benefice of an overlord (this time an American; typically an oil sultan). Ambassador Crocker said that 2008 may become the year of independence for Iraq inasmuch as Prime Minister Maliki is now acting like a government.

Iraq not has $74 billion surplus. After Basra (where Maliki hastily kicked out JAM) and then May-June success in Sadr City (where JAM was curtailed) Maliki announced $100 Million city service for Basra and $100 million Sadr City. Oil now flowing in Basra and better in Baji.

 

Israel

General Keith Dayton, United States Security Coordinator, hopes for more direct involvement by Tony Blair. We talked about need for US to engage Palestinians more freely. Failing to do so undercuts message of two state solution. The 19 year-old Palestinians he's training have a new attitude. But he acknowledged that if you watch your Dad's lettuce spoil because it takes him 3 days to move it to population center, resentment sets in. Biggest undercutting is putting settlements in West Bank. Here's the message: Fattah/Abbas/unity government cooperates in good faith and gets settlements in the West Bank. Hezbollah nabs two Israeli soldiers, war ensues, they give two bodies back in exchange for 1,000 prisoners being released. Hamas watches from Gaza and is reinforced in its view that violence is the answer.

Consul General
Israeli governing coalitions form and then become unstable fairly quickly and then reform. Of necessity, they take actions that are designed to shore up their coalitions, even if those actions are inconsistent with long term national goals.

Bethlehem
200,000 Palestinians are restricted to the town of Bethlehem. They can only enter Israel with difficult-to-obtain visa. Traveling to anywhere else in the world is therefore very difficult. Palestinians are not allowed to fly out of Israel’s airports.

Old City
Asaf, security agent from first visit to Israel: my wife is my world. I worship the ground she walks on. I live to serve her and our kids. You can't just bring them into the world. You've got to work for them, protect them, and provide for them. 2-year old still plays with toy from 2006 visit.

Sderot
Guide George A. (retired school teacher; grandpa) showed us around. 7,000 rockets received since 2001. Sometimes 40 per day. Deaths are 24 with 111 injuries.

Can't let people stew in their own juices in jail in Gaza. Palestinians built roads and structures in Israel. Now cut off from work. Frustration gives legitimacy to charlatan leaders who blame others for the people's problems.

 

Prague

The agreement citing a missile defense radar site in Czech Republic has been signed and now must be ratified by the Czech parliament. Interceptor site would be in Poland. Poland is asking for support relative to physical assets, Czechs are asking for opportunities for mutual development of science and technology. Vote in Parliament is expected to be very close. The governing center right coalition includes the Green Party which opposes all nuclear power (and has an agreement within the coalition that no new nuclear facilities will be pursued during this government). Green Party is uncomfortable with citing the radar in Czech Republic.

Russia is actively engaged in campaign against approval of citing and has even funded billboards encouraging a “no” vote. Russia sees central Europe as their neighborhood, and they want primacy there.

Just as freedom is part of the narrative and mission of America, for the Czech Republic human rights are central. Czech citizens are involved in various places (like Cuba), giving a voice and sunlight to those kept silent.

With the academics we discussed the challenge of intervening, but not too much; of having people develop their own narratives. It was parallel to the discussion with General Petraeus/Ambassador Crocker.

The city is beautiful and blossoming with prosperity. The metronome in place of the statue of Stalin speaks of the music of life replacing domination and control. Older images telling the story of a severe faith remain in the piece on the Charles Bridge depicting souls in the prison of hell and scary gargoyles that adorn the Cathedrals. Those images brighten when interpreted in the light of life and faith in living hearts and in the natural beauty that surrounds them:

This is my Father's world.
     O let me ne'er forget
     that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.