I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book. I’m a huge Neal Stephenson fan. His writing is wonderful. His characters are fascinating. This book, co-written with his uncle under the pen name Stephen Bury is, in my opinion, highly underrated.

First and foremost, if you’ve read Stephenson’s recent work (Cryptonomicon, The Baroque Cycle then you’ll probably find The Cobweb to be somewhat light reading. On the other hand, if you like thrillers, this is a very easy and palatable read.

What I enjoyed most about The Cobweb were the indictments of Washington bureaucrats, and of the way the U.S. Government works (or doesn’t, as is more likely). The books characters are people are I can relate to, whether we’re talking about simple speaking but intelligent deputy sheriff Clyde Banks or the cynical career CIA agent Hennessy. The family of wrestlers named Dhont and the (fictional) migratory Vakhan Turks added a lot to the tale.

Since I have spent five years on active duty in both the Marine Corps and the Army, I particularly enjoyed the critiques of bloated bureaucracy and the central theme of the book "being cobwebbed" by bureaucrats. The detailed descriptions of government bloat and inefficiency are spot on.

The Cobweb manages to mock politics, politicians, bureaucrats and bureaucray and I found that aspect of the novel highly refreshing. The only scene I found unrealistic or unbelievable in the entire novel was the shootout in downtown D.C. in which one of the characters survives a pistol battle only to ask, "What was that all about?" People who survive gun battles that take place inside a vehicle with the windows rolled up aren’t going to be able to hear, but I can forgive the authors since they’ve probably never heard a gun fired inside a car with the windows rolled up. I’m pretty sure a lot of the botulism stuff was unrealistic too, but I’m not a scientist, and so my suspension of disbelief remained intact in regards to the Iraqi terrorist plot to use botulism against Israel and thereby break the coalition. I suspect that in the real world, though, such a scenario wouldn’t work, because the truth of the matter is that every country but Britain could have pulled out of the first Gulf War and the result would still have been identical. Nevertheless, it’s an interesting plot the kept my rapt attention throughout.
My favorite portion of The Cobweb is a long speech in which the jaded Hennessy explains that government does not solve problems it merely manages them. Bureaucrats don’t actually fix anything, they find ways to drag out and prolong the problems, making them their own and passing them on to the next crop of bureaucrats, who continue the process of managing the problems.

The Cobweb is a wonderful yarn that highlights the best and worst in people and institutions and it’s a wonderful romp through a fictional part of Iowa that I highly recommend. Guest starring two real historical characters - Tariq Aziz and George Herbert Walker Bush.

There have been obvious signs over the last few days that the Iraqi government intends to do more of its own heavy lifting from now on. Assets appear to have begun being shuffled already.

I’m doubtful that my unit or I will be affected, but it’s fairly clear that the Iraqi government is quite interested in Iraqis taking care of their own problems. This is as it should be. While the United States and its allies have clear ideas about what Iraq should become, Iraqis are ultimately going to be the ones who decide what Iraq will evolve or devolve into.

Iraq isn’t really Iraq yet. Rather, it’s Shia, Sunni and Kurd, as it has been for a long swath of history. Under Saddam, Iraq was only held together by brutal force, one sociopath’s will and his ability to inflict raw fear. Whether Iraq will coalesce or splinter remains to be seen. Many Iraqis are staking their lives on the eventual outcome here. It seems clear to me from the elections held in December that most Iraqis want to solve debates a new way, through discussion and political processes rather than the use of force.

I have heard the first messages from the new Prime Minister about disbanding militias. What’s really critical is quelling the insurgency because the militias, in part, are a response to the lack of security for Iraq’s citizens. Integrating the militias into the military and police forces may be a partial solution, but only if the police and military are led by nationalists who can do two things - a) survive and b) control their units.
The United States, Britain and other members of the coalition will increasingly have to stand by on the sidelines as the Iraqis discover their national identity and try to forge a nation that respects life and affords citizens an existence of dignity and choices. It is going to take generations.

In the meantime, Iraqis will increasingly be going it alone.

“Certainly at the end of this year there would be a sizeable gross reduction of troops,” he said. “In the next couple of years we would hope that most of the coalition forces will go back home safely.”

Donald Rumsfeld and Condeleeza Rice visited us yesterday. I stayed in my hole, as I usually do. I have no real desire to meet the high and mighty in my government, as I might say something that would get me into trouble. I don’t get star struck like some people, and I’m not impressed by rank.

Reviews of the surpise visit by our Secretary of State and Defense Secretary were mixed but that is to be expected.

I try to read between the lines whenever these types of events happen, to figure out if anything truly noteworthy might result from such visits. I think the most hopeful development I heard out of yesterday’s visit was this:

He (Donald Rumsfeld) said as a practical matter, one of the first things he wants to do is address a long-standing irritant for ordinary Iraqis: the poor quality or lack of electricity.

Now that would truly be progress. For three years, Iraqis in Baghdad, the capital city, have suffered with spotty, erratic electricity. I don’t think a nation can be truly civilized without electricity. Air conditioners, televisions and computers are things that would greatly benefit this city. Not too mention the ability to refrigerate food, light your home and so forth.

In large American cities, when the power goes chaos isn’t usually far behind. I hope that the electricity situation in Baghdad and throughout Iraq really is going to be a higher priority. Keeping the power on would truly show Iraqis that their fledgling government is looking out for them, and that infrastructure is a priority and basic improvements to quality of life are coming.

I’m slightly dubious but hopeful.

A man in the Middle East needs your help making the world a better place.

The most wanted man in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, released a rare video of himself yesterday, proving to the world that he is alive and still playing an active part in the insurgency he helped to create.

Looking composed in black clothes and green combat webbing, the Jordanian head of al-Qaeda in Iraq, was seen in his desert hideout posing with a captured US machinegun and planning tactics with followers, whose faces were hidden by black masks. “America has realised today that its tanks, armies and Shia agents will not be able to end the battle with the Mujahidin [fighters],” he said, referring to the newly-formed Government in Baghdad.

Most of us have, in our mind’s eye, a vision of various things that would make the world better. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is no exception. And he’ll murder anyone who disagrees or just happens to be in the way. If that sounds like a winning plan to you, then buy a one way ticket to Jordan. From there, it’s just a short car ride across the border into Iraq, where you should have no problem joining the insurgency.

There will be sacrifices.

Here are some things you’ll be giving up:

• Rational discussions of any issues - it’s Musab’s way or the shallow grave for you now that you’ve arrived
• Medical care (including dental) - it’s spotty at best
• Heat in winter/Cooling in summer - it gets pretty hot here and shorts are frowned on
• Access to most consumer goods you take for granted - pirated movies are easy to get but the electricity is pretty spotty
• Easy access to potable water - bring a lifetime supply of Immodium
• Daily bathing
• Religious freedom (you better learn your Qur’an before heading over)
• Sex (except within very stringent guidelines, see the holy book mentioned above)
• Freedom of speech (whine at your own peril)
• Your home and any automobiles you own
• 11 years off your expected lifespan, assuming you don’t meet a violent end shortly after arriving and being mistaken for an infidel
• Alcohol is frowned on by Islamic zealots, although they will probably allow you to get high at least one time if you volunteer for a suicide mission
• If you’re female, learn to obey men without question

Here’s what you’ll gain:

• The satisfaction of a glorious afterlife including an abundant supply of virgins*

*No money back gaurentee, females not included in offer

Me, I’m sticking with President Bush and his right hand man Rumsfeld for the time being. They may not be perfect, but they’re not likely to cut off my head or blow up my house over disagreements we may have.

This image was taken yesterday as a rain/sand storm made it’s way across central Baghdad. The storm lasted several hours, and strong winds turned the sky a color I’ve not seen before. The accompanying thunderstorm sounded like the biggest mortar barrage I’ve ever heard.

Earlier in the day, I had heard several car bombs go off, and they were puny in comparison to the power of nature. The violence and energy of one thunderstorm kind of put things back into perspective for me. Thunderstorms, however, do not intentionally target human beings for death. They are blind and furious but they are not malignant and evil as the lesser beings who live below them can tend to be.

Today, in its infinite wisdom, the Army forced me to submit to a "random" urine donation exercise. That’s a fancy way of saying blind bureaucracy wants some sort of tangible proof that I am not participating in the ingestion of prohibited substances. Luckily, I somehow managed to avoid using black tar heroin while I was home on leave so I am quite sure I passed this particular "test."

The amount of time and energy spent testing soldier’s urine samples could be invested in something worthwhile, like stopping insurgents from planting IEDs. But hey, that’s just me, a guy who thinks the drug war is a colossal waste of time and energy.

Taking a few hours out of my busy day to pee in a small plastic cup only to prove what my chain of command should already know - that I’m not using any illicit substances, is just part of the brave new world of bureaucracy we’ve all come to accept. I suppose one day when we’re all forced to wear a microchip that monitors our every moment of existence to ensure that none of us is doing anything Uncle Sam doesn’t approve of, well, we’ll all be the better for it. Or something.