Violence and Instability Worsens in Iraq While Bush Diverts Attention to War on Terror

Interview with Dahr Jamail, independent journalist, conducted by Scott Harris

In the weeks before the nation observed the 5th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, President Bush and the Republican Party have done their best to direct the nation's focus away from the deteriorating situation in the Iraq war and towards the war on terror. Bush has made a series of speeches and taken actions that underscore his unilateral approach to dealing with terrorist suspects just seven weeks before Americans go to the polls to determine which party will control Congress for the next two years.

While the nation's media has devoted extensive coverage to the U.S. diplomatic confrontation with Iran and the president's demand for Congress to join him in re-interpreting the Geneva Conventions, U.S. forces and the Iraqi people have witnessed a rising level of violence and instability. According to the Pentagon's own analysis, Iraqi casualties and the number of insurgent attacks have seen a dramatic increase in recent months, particularly in the embattled al-Anbar province. Offering insight into the U.S. failure to reconstruct Iraq, a recent Washington Post story detailed how many individuals who "lacked vital skills and experience" were assigned to positions in the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq based on their "loyalty to the Bush administration."

Between The Lines' spoke with independent, unembedded journalist Dahr Jamail, who reported from the streets of Iraq for eight months beginning in 2003. He assesses the worsening situation in the Iraq war and the flawed attempt by U.S. forces to win hearts and minds.

Read Dahr Jamail's articles online at www.dahrjamailiraq.com

Related links:

* Global Exchange at www.globalexchange.org

* Voters for Peace at www.votersforpeace.us

* United for Peace and Justice at www.unitedforpeace.org

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