Not one more soldier

Just in case you're tempted to believe the Bushco nonsence that Iraq really is turning into a land of rose petals and honey, read Josh Partlow's excellent profile of the dismal tour experiences of 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division in Sadiyah. 'I Don't Think This Place Is Worth Another Soldier's Life'

"When we first got here, all the shops were open. There were women and children walking out on the street," Alarcon said this week. "The women were in Western clothing. It was our favorite street to go down because of all the hot chicks."

~snip~

Before the war, Sadiyah was a bustling middle-class district, popular with Sunni officers in Saddam Hussein's military. It has become strategically important because it represents a fault line between militia power bases in al-Amil to the west and the Sunni insurgent stronghold of Dora to the east. U.S. commanders say the militias have made a strong push for the neighborhood in part because it lies along the main road that Shiite pilgrims travel to the southern holy cities of Najaf and Karbala.

American soldiers estimate that since violence intensified this year, half of the families in Sadiyah have fled, leaving approximately 100,000 people. After they left, insurgents and militiamen used their abandoned homes to hold meetings and store weapons. The neighborhood deteriorated so quickly that many residents came to believe neither U.S. nor Iraqi security forces could stop it happening.

The descent of Sadiyah followed a now-familiar pattern in Baghdad. In response to suicide bombings blamed on Sunni insurgent groups such as al-Qaeda in Iraq, the Shiite militias, particularly the Mahdi Army, went from house to house killing and intimidating Sunni families. In many formerly mixed neighborhoods of Baghdad, such as al-Amil and Bayaa, Shiites have become the dominant sect, with their militias the most powerful force.

"It's just a slow, somewhat government-supported sectarian cleansing," said Maj. Eric Timmerman, the battalion's operations officer.

Go read the whole thing. If the violence is down, it's because there's no one left to kill. They're either dead, or they've fled the country, like Riverbend and her family.

BTW, a little off topic, but I have to say something. It's become fashionable at Eschaton and other progressive blogs to bash the press 24/7 in a reflexive, knee-jerk, fashion. I just want to take a minute to remind you that everything you know about Iraq, about the Bush administration's crimes and abuses, or about the events of the day is because of the work of reporters.

There are still many good ones out there, working in difficult conditions and not making much money doing it. Please don't confuse the asshattery of the pundit class and Fox News with actual, honest journalism. Reports of the death of journalism have been greatly exagerated, IMHO.

note: I'd post a photo, but blogger photos seems to be down.