A relentlessly negative assessement of Iraq that lacks any pretense at balance. Not a single positive development--such as the deals that have recently been brokered with insurgents--is even mentioned, much less put in context. Those who opposed the removal of Saddam Hussein seem determined to dismiss any positive aspect of his removal, free elections for example. And nothing is said of Saddam's million or so victims prior to the U.S. invasion (which carnage and torture ... More »

It predicts a need for itself, and then doesn't quite fulfill that need. Schwartz righly bemoans the dearth of reporting out of Iraq, but his own report dwells only on the worst conditions and worst locations. It is easy and somewhat justified for supporters of the war to criticize the report for not including positive things, such as, I don't know, schools being built or women being liberated. To expect the media to keep up a drumbeat of reports from Iraq when nothing much is ... More »

Yes, it gives a clear and truthful description of the conditions currently existing and a concise but with some detail history of what led to these conditions. Very interesting and informative.