[Dolphy]

No, I haven't seen any refugees, in fact I have found it very strange that people haven't fled Baghdad. I am not certain what is going on in the north but given the alliance we seem to have made with them it would seem odd that they would flee.

Frankly, I find those so worried about these things to be disingenous unless they can demonstrate the same concern for these people while under the rule of the sadistic tyrant. Woodward tells a story about Bush and Afghanistan when the President wanted the first action to be food drops. (This showing that he didn't understand the need to make the airspace safe first.) I think both Bush and Blair are compelled by the humanitarian needs in Iraq, after all, they are the ones leading the effort to displace Saddam.

[Wordsmith]

Interesting discussion of this on NPR this morning (I know, but I can't pick up any AM stations during my commute). Red Cross and company have camps ready for 300K refugees. So far, have taken in 14. Not 14K, 14. Said Iraqis poorer than in '91, don't have means to flee. And that Saddam stocked each family with a month's worth of food. Once the food runs out, all bets are off on the number of refugees. Or if bombs start falling on neighborhoods (which, of course, isn't likely to happen).

[Howlin]

The disingenous ones are the ones who are quickly realizing that they are fast becoming irrelevant.

[thedugal]

in fact I have found it very strange that people haven't fled Baghdad

Saddam locked the city down when Bush gave his ultimatum. Noone has been allowed in or out of the city since (except for Human Shields).