Bagdad on the Bayou?

New Orleans. Baghdad.

Which world city is more corrupt, dangerous and damaged?

Both cities are victims of Bush administration "assistance". We are sad sister cities linked by the disaster of Bush administration incompetence and arrogance.

The Bush policy toward Baghdad is to flood it with military in an effort to being civil order. The Bush policy towards New Orleans is to ignore the flood caused by the Army Corps of Engineers. Bush doesn't want to waive the 10% local government co pay required for FEMA money. It was waived for New York after 9-11 and it was waived for Florida after hurricane Andrew. But Bush won't agree to waive it for New Orleans.

Maybe he needs that money to pay for the surge in Baghdad.

Conditions in New Orleans are improving and I have more hope for the future. If we get a Democrat in the White House then maybe some of the promised money will make its way here. In the meantime; people aren't waiting and there are a lot of local initiatives. Neighborhood associations are getting results and the neighborhoods are on the mend. The latest city plan for recovery has been well received. It looks like more money is on the way.

Poor Baghdad. That city suffers from a multitude of problems. It lacks the tradition of citizen involvement that New Orleans and all American cities have. We are pulling ourselves out of the morass of destruction. They are sinking in it.

Of course, Baghdad is more corrupt, dangerous and damaged.