Which version will make the textbooks?

Posted on 16 January 2004 by Diane Warth

AntiWar Blog discusses Bill Evers and links to an article he wrote that was published by The Wall Street Journal.

Evers, a “once-great Libertarian” turned Republican in the 1990’s, served as a senior adviser for education to Ambassador Paul Bremer from July 20 through Dec. 17, 2003.

He makes various claims that defy reports dating back to April ’03 from papers like The Telegraph and Independent and this from Sept. ’03 in The Los Angeles Times.

If you haven’t read it yet, this article serves as sharp contrast to Evers’ theme of a school system that has been aided tremendously by U.S. efforts and flourished under his watch.

One example. He wrote “The Iraqi children and grown-ups smile, always say “Welcome” and wave.”

The flip side:

This friendliness, however, is short-lived. As soon as the officer leaves the office, Khadija’s smile quickly fades. “I hate it when they turn up unannounced,” she explains. “The first time they came here, they went from classroom to classroom with guns dangling over their shoulders, asking the terrified children whom they loved more, Saddam Hussein or George Bush.” The school principal expects little from the Americans. The list of provisions for the school, she says — tables, chairs and a television set — she has given to the Americans at least a dozen times. At first she used to write a new list for each visit, now she simply copies the old one. “There is no point, nothing happens anyway,” she explains.

Iraqi police officers now make these visits as well:

ipsc.jpg

“Iraqi school children wait quietly yesterday as Iraqi police officers pass out flyers asking the children to help coalition forces near Ramadi, Iraq.”
(AP PHOTO)

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