Baghdad City Cop

Wall Street Journal ^ | Sept 24, 2003 | BERNARD B. KERIK

[The Raven]

Welcome to a free Iraq" is what Jerry Bremer, administrator for the Coalition Provisional Authority, said to me as he reached out to shake my hand when I arrived in Baghdad four months ago. I'm still moved by those words as I say them myself, "Welcome to a free Iraq," just as I was moved yesterday by President Bush -- under pressure at home and abroad -- standing firmly by our nation-building project in his U.N. speech.

[The Raven]

Mr. Kerik, a former chief of the New York Police Department, has just returned from a four-month stint in Baghdad as senior policy adviser to Ambassador Bremer.

[bitcon]

One would think that they themselves have the answer, or the magic pill that will fix it all, but unfortunately, there isn't one!


I'm sure there is one for the rats. It's called cyanide. After they take it all their problems will go away. So will much of the conservative's problems.

[Coop]

What a fantastic article from one who really knows the deal. Thanks for posting!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Post of the week.

The magnitude of our task can be measured from the fact that we had to teach cops that when you pull a man suspected of a crime into the station, you can't just hang him upside-down and beat him with an iron bar.

Horrors of the regime and hope for the future. Let anyone read this and say we didn't do a GOOD thing in Iraq.

Congress, give the troops the money they need to get the job done!

 Thanks, Tonkin!

If you want on or off my PRO-coalition ping list, please Freepmail me. Warning: it is a high volume ping list on good days. (Most days are good days). All links are added to my homepage, link above.

[Coop]

Thought you'd enjoy this wonderful (IMHO) article.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

It's only Wednesday, and you have found the post of the week!? (JOKING!)

[mystery-ak]

Thanks for posting this....and Thank-you Mr. Kerik for serving your country,... you sir, are a great American...please get your story out.

[Miss Marple]

Yes, I did enjoy it. Thank you so much for calling it to my attention!

[prairiebreeze]

Thank you for posting this. Perhaps we should send it to Senator "I-drove-the-car-into-the-river-and-got-off-scott-free" Kennedy.

Prairie

[Miss Marple]

Here is an op-ed from the former Police Chief of Newe York. Note his comments on Saddam and on the progress of opening police stations.

[blackie]

"Welcome to a free Iraq." ~ Bump!

[BigWaveBetty]

All of this is being done, and at speeds that make our federal and state bureaucracies look like they're standing still. And yet the political criticism is deafening.

There is no plan for a post war Iraq (ha!) PING!

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[Coop]

Good info above from one who knows.

[BigWaveBetty]

Dadburnit! I meant, there is no plan for a post war Iraq (ha!) BUMP!
:-)

[maica]

I was thnking of the swimming senator of Massachusetts as well while reading this article. He criticizes our lack of success in Iraq - after 4 months - yet he has no problem confining DC children in pathetic public schools - generation after generation.

What a disgusting hypocrite.

[prairiebreeze]

To continue with discussion on Senator Swimmer, a post on another thread has certainly gotten me thinking. That poster was observing how our enemies are laughing at us because of the fighting we are doing amongst ourselves. Because of the Democratic attacks and agression.

The President tried to communicate that in a subtle way when he called Kennedy's remarks "uncivil" and not helpful to America. However, his subtle message is either lost on the Dims or they refuse to care enough about country to stop and consider their actions. Not giving thought to how 24 hour news cycles and the internet runs in all directions.

I've been wondering if the frustratingly muted (mostly) response from the Republicans to this is an attempt to not ratchet up the rhetoric even further. To give the enemy less dangerous material and encouragement.

??

At the very least I've found a talking point about the recklessness of the Democratic attacks and perhaps a way to view the situation without my blood pressure sky-rocketing.

Prairie

[PhilDragoo]

New Yorkers will remember that it took the Giuliani administration eight years to create the safest large city in the world and that was with every resource under the sun. Five months ago in Iraq, we adopted a country of 24 million, with no electricity, water, technology, Internet, telephones or radio communications, etc. There was nothing, and yet the critics are saying that it's taking too long.

Baddabing baddaboom: New York, Iraq: You want instant? Fuggedaboudit. You want safe? Can do. Step back, shut up, let the professionals do their job.

[windchime]

Bernard Kerik knows how to tell it like it is.

[maica]

A late reply to you -

When President Bush referred to the Mass whale's remarks as 'uncivil', I thought that it was a devastating blow. It is like a gentleman calling a duel by striking with a kid glove, or Queen Victoria saying " we are not amused."

President Bush and his 'crew' have said over and over again that we are fighting a war to save the civilized world from those who are not civil.

If Kennedy wants to be considered in that category, he can choose to continue talking in the same way.

I agree that the Pub response has been muted, and I believe it is because Bush gave the message to Kennedy loud and clear.