optimism!

I had to laugh. This depiction of the Green Zone in Baghdad describes how the once-hot social scene with young conservative true believers dancing in the clubs and all that has now become a rather somber quiet place, full of sober professionals who recognize the problem the Republican Project in Iraq faces. Less dancing, you can't leave the Green Zone without an armed escort - not a fun place.

But the article includes a wonderful example of optimism. The new US embassy there, that was supposed to be finished months (and billions of dollars ago) is quite state of the art. It even includes a day care center for children of American employees.

I don't know about you, but it doesn't look to me like Iraq will be the kind of place people will want to take their children to...