Making Things Better

Letter #2: sent on Monday, Nov. 8.

Dear Friends, Family, and All Good People,

I traveled through Amman on my way to Iraq. On my way into Amman I picked
up the November 2 issue of the Guardian with a front-page article, "Things
grow better with Coke." John Vidal writes that farmers in India are using
Coke as a pesticide on cotton and chili fields. An Indian government
committee supported findings that Coke (and Pepsi) had unacceptable levels
of pesticides in the water they used for bottling their drinks. Vidal goes
on to write that Coke has worked well to remove rust spots, clean
lavatories, and reportedly was used as a spermicide in China! I know that
the CPT team in Colombia has urged a boycott of Coke because of its targeted
killing of union organizers, but we need to realize the broad ways in which
Coke makes things better!

Here in Iraq we find a similarly interesting feature. All parties think
that the US military can make things better for them. The US military is
presently engaged in a massive assault on the Iraqi city of Fallujah.
Interim Prime Minister Allawi is convinced the US military can eradicate the
terrorists there. The US administration believes they are the best tools
for bringing democracy to the Middle East, starting with Iraq. The US
government has also asked the military to carry a primary role of rebuilding
the Iraqi infrastructure, judging from the many reports of military
personnel painting schools so students can return. In addition, across Iraq
the US military social action components are being used to win the hearts
and minds of local populations. Here in Iraq, the US military is being used
by other actors to "make things better." Unfortunately, that "better"
happens in ways that don't benefit the military personnel themselves, the
country of Iraq, or the United States.

The numbers of addictions, suicides, and deaths of US soldiers continue to
rise as they grapple with the trauma and risk. The country of Iraq is
imploding from the violence that has been planted here. A friend of Sheila'
s reports there were more than 100,000 hits on the Canadian immigration web
page the day after the US election.

The mosquitoes have been bothersome in our apartment, but a net over my bed
does the job! Some autumn rains are falling, a welcome diversion from other
falling objects.

Though readers probably don't get the reports in North American media,
dozens of explosions daily rock the nearby parts of Baghdad as the attack on
Fallujah proceeds. Yesterday, a few blocks down Karrada, an explosion
targeted the minister of finance. A guard was killed. Today about the time
Matthew arrived at the airport, an explosion killed two people near the
entrance. Tonight bombs hit two churches in Doura, just south across the
Tigris.

Today two of us went late in the morning for blood tests as initial steps
for an extended visa. The technician told us that nine foreigners had been
there earlier in the day. We are not the only foreigners in Baghdad!

Remember, if you have problems with beetles on your roses or terrorists in
your yard, there are ready answers. Just be careful with the union
organizers and the soldiers.

Peace to each of you,

Cliff kindy