I read yesterday on Juan Cole that most of Baghdad’s printers had gone on strike, their first in 30 years, to protest a decision awarding the contract for printing new textbooks to foreigners.
I wanted to mention it and this bit I came across reporting that the contract for mobiles and phone service had been awarded to an Israeli firm.
This continued outsourcing of contracts that could possibly be awarded to Iraqis themselves is an affront to the continued justification for this occupation.
But when I visited Informed Comment just now, the latest posting is about an internet friend of Cole’s who was killed Thursday near al-Hilla.
Business deals can always be renegotiated. This continuing loss of life can never be undone.
What a tragic time this is.