Patterico's Pontifications

11/2/2007

And for Allah’s Sake Keep Shopping

Filed under: War — DRJ @ 2:59 pm



[Guest post by DRJ]

The Instapundit brings more good news from Iraq: American and Iraqi deaths continue to decline, Iran is curtailing its activities in Iraq, … yada, yada, yada. Who cares? Apparently not the Washington Post because, as Don Surber notes, the WaPo buried these stories on pages 14 and 18. But it does make me wonder what other good news may have been buried in the news from Iraq.

After 9/11, President Bush asked for “our continued participation and confidence in the American economy,” a phrase that Time Magazine construed to mean “And for God’s sake keep shopping.” It wasn’t bad advice and I wonder if some Iraqis might be having a similar Come to Capitalism moment:

“As if sensing a possible shift in the capital, Iraqis in mainly Shiite eastern Baghdad have returned to the streets in numbers not seen in months.

Firas Rahim, who owns a shop selling clothing for men and children in the Karradah neighborhood, said the number of customers in the store has risen 75 percent in recent days. He now stays open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Before the chaos diminished he was open only from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

“I was afraid to stay open longer because of the bombings and violence. Things are looking better now. My business is booming,” Rahim said. “I have whole families coming in again. It’s a positive sign. I hope it lasts. Baghdadis love to live at night. I used to close after midnight and hope, someday, I can again.”

Taxis and minibuses, scarce even on recent Fridays, were plentiful. In the mainly Shiite district of New Baghdad, in the east of the capital, a small amusement park was under repair, workmen rejuvenating the rides. The park was closed when the United States invaded in March 2003.

Shops were under repair for reopening. And in the neighborhood market, there were women present, able to enter without searches for the first time in months. Residents said hundreds of shops that had been closed on recent Fridays were now open.”

The report notes that tensions are still high in some areas, particularly in west Baghdad, but the trend in violence and deaths appears to be heading steadily down. Getting people back to everyday events like work and shopping is a sign that conditions may continue to improve.

— DRJ

3 Responses to “And for Allah’s Sake Keep Shopping”

  1. This is all lies. Damned lies. We must listen to Sen. Reid, and actus, and MissCleo, who really know how things are going so horribly wrong.

    JD (49efd3)

  2. JD is so very right!

    TC (1cf350)

  3. “My business is booming…”

    Not the best choice of words.

    Kevin (4890ef)


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