Bad breath is better than no breath at all

Fayfouz points out a gaping hole in Iraqi security, easy to obtain fake passports.

Officials in Baghdad and Washington continually berate Iraq's neighbours, particularly Syria, for their failure to block insurgency movements across their joint borders. But one of the most dangerous security lapses thrives in the heart of Baghdad - the trade in illicit Iraqi passports.

The ease of this deal - a "there's-no-limit" discussion on the number of passports required, placing an order and arranging the pick-up - is a chilling window on the easy movement of terrorists into and out of the country.

Her voice seems small and helpless in the wake of what passed for an election in Iraq. Election day made it clear Iraqis are made of steel and deserve a better government than the current one. I hope someone is listening.

Anyone who thinks that Iraq is now on the way to freedom, political stability and representative government is living in a fool's paradise. When Fayrouz uses the phrase "better government than the current one" she is being generous in her description of what passes for "government" in Iraq.