I've just heard a french journalist back from Iraq (and returning back next month, perhaps) and who's been a hostage in Lebanon for more than 300 days , Roger Auch, say that the insurgents are getting better and better organized, with weapons they can very easily hide.
Life has become imossible for whoever looks like a westerner because anybody can kidnap them for a ransom; it has become an industry.

He also says that the Iraqis are more free than during Saddam, but that during Saddam,they had jobs, were assisted by their government. As they're so used to be assisted, they expect the US to assist them. Having to take care of themselves is going to be a major break in their way of life. Some are earning a lot more than they could during Saddam.

He says the US troops will have to give the keys back to the religious leaders and very likely there'll be some kind of arrangement with the northern and southern part of Iraq to allow for oil deals favorable to the west, while the US will allow some kind of Islamic regime to have the power (like in Iran); there is no doubt according to him Iraq is getting more and more under the influence of religious leaders.

In my family, there's more and more the opinion Bush should win the elections, so that he can face the realization his Iraqi campaign won't get anywhere and because he started it, he must also finish it.

Raoul