I don’t believe there has ever been adequate infrastructure in this place: we didn’t destroy a thriving city, by any means. Large parts of it remain the third-world slit trench it has always been.

You can’t understand unless you’ve been in a place like this; getting electricity to your house means running a rigged-up tap off your neighbor’s place. No codes, no standards, no basic level of knowledge to allow safe wiring.

As I’ve said before, the most enlightened form of trash disposal in this place is open buring in huge piles: low temperature and toxic.

Iraqis may keep their homes neat and clean inside but they have absolutely zero compunction about emptying their trash over the villa wall into the street. No sense of community to spur them to keep the streets nice, but they will complain about it. Iraqis generally will not walk ten steps out of their way to discard trash in a receptacle.

I am not speaking in hyperbole, metaphor, or in any way other than literal meaning. Do not take this as an exaggeration; it is not.

As far as I can tell, thas never been what we would consider infrastructure here. Not for sewer, electricity, clean water, none of it. Some people had privileged positions which allowed them to ignore that or work around it, but it’s far more egalitarian now.

I think they may have found the only Iraqui incapable of starting a business or holding a job.

Lady, if that’s the most you have to complain about, you ought to be giving thanks instead.

– Max