There still is no Iraqi governement , not even an interim government (as promised by Bremer).

Nobody, except some religious leader seems to be suitable. Religious leader? And what about women's freedom in Iras?

The sporadic attacks cannot be blamed on Saddam nostalgists alone. Those gangs are localized and have different reasons (like not wanting to surrender weapons) and are sometimes well organized.

No electricity (and getting hotter), no jobs because the non pro-Saddam citizens were not allowed formations in civil services. But also, no Saddam in sight nor WMD's and not even oil exportations.

And Iraqis, while glad to have been liberated from Saddam, are feeling occupied. This is worse than being colonized, because during the colonial era, inhabitants were born and grew up and spent most of their life administered by a foreign power. They grew used to it as it had always been there in their lifetime, until they realized it was enough. Being occupied means that only a few months ago, they were living under Iraqi's culture and regime (even if it was frightening) and now, they are under the influence of another culture, other principles and feel humiliated.
If only all the US soldiers knew how to knock on the door and ask "in arab language":"Please, open the door and get outside, it's for your own good" Instead, they kick the door and shout in english "Open the door and get out , Now!". But then, americans are more blunt than other cultures, as I've realized.

The US is apparently (seeing this in a ARTE 21 TV program, here) spending 2 Billion $ for the reconstruction of Iraq, which is far LESS than what the US is spending for the defense of Israel.

Things are not getting better'; I wonder what it wil be like in 6 months. An Islamic state, most probably. Thanks to the AEI.

Raoul.

Raoul