Chaos as an Anti-U.S. Strategy

With US strategy now focused on the re-construction of Iraq which will aid its effort on winning the people, the old regime sympathizers & extremist have altered their tactics accordingly. They no longer are attacking the US military directly but instead focusing on hampering all re-construction effort and mostly to deny the Americans the ability to pacify Iraq. The latest attack on UN head quarters is just an example.Massacre of the peacemakers

This raises the question if the re-construction effort should have been delayed until Iraq security is assured. The US admin strategy hinges on the monetary returns associated with the re-construction work which they hope will act as a magnet, pacifying in its way all resistance and bringing Iraqi back to work. Many are asking if this strategy is appropriate in the current environment. Many companies are now re-assessing their approach and involvement in the reconstruction effort.

What ever is the spin, Iraq is plunged, once again, in darkness.

Troubling Times in Iraq

To get a good local perspective on Iraq In order to find our what is really happening in Iraq, I logged to Where is Raed ? . The site is a blog written by an Iraqi translator and without any influence from big media.

What I read is troubling. Iraq seems to continue descending. Yet the US media tries to suger-fies the reports.
With more daily US causalities, the US media seem to be turning off in regard to reporting on the war in Iraq. Just check NY times today and the latest destruction of oil pipeline and water instillation does not even feature on it.

US soldiers are becoming more vocal in Iraq in criticizing the Washington boys that have left them in this mess. Extract from
�I know what we have done is right and we had to do it but there must have been a better way to do it.�

With continuous casualties, the US army is using hard tactics with innocent civilians and as yesterday, 2 dead Palestinian reporters. US troops 'crazy' in killing of cameraman
Theses tactics are alienating even sympathizers to the US.

The hospitals and morgues in Iraq are at breaking point, trying to cope with tens of gun shot wound. As the BBC reporter said last night, you can get shot easily in Iraq. You just don't know from where the shot will come or by whom.

Top 100 Saudi Companies

Good list from Arab News. The list is slightly outdated (2001) but provides good starting information about saudi companies such as asset , capital and Turnover.