YOUR COMMENTS

Shea-Porter is just another snake hiding under a rock because she supports another policy that makes no common
-or- fiscal sense... How can you defend a position of "Pelosi told me to do it" -or- "I know better than you"???
- Hedge, Newton

Great editorial! Enough of these liberals! Take back New Hampshire in 2010!
- Bill, Brookline

Senator Bradley makes several important points regarding the debate on the most significant, pending legislation in a generation.

I was privileged(?) to be included in the telephone presentation by Congresswoman Porter last week. What a disappointment--one- sided, pie in the sky, political side-step of the questions offered (no follow-up questions allowed). The word coward was already used so i don't need to repeat it here.

Sure, we all want affordable, available health care, but i have yet to see a specific definition of the problem, courses of action discussed/debated, and the best approach outlined for NH (and the nation). All i can deduce is more money will be needed along with more Government involvement. Where are the benchmarks? How do we define success? How much money is enough?

These are my "tough" questions; I guess it is too much for my representative to stand up in front of me and my peers to discuss this; all the perks of the office but none of the real work.

I have similar questions regarding the pending climate legislation. As a meteorologist for over 23 years, I'll clearly state--there is NO threat of runaway, human-induced global warming. Sorry to burst any fantasies out there. Climate change is pervasive--it's a dynamic system! Here are some facts: We don't fully understand all the key components of the system (yes, this is a system; focusing mainly on one aspect, CO2, won't cut it). We cannot fully/accurately observe/measure the total system. The computer models are therefore a guess (at best). Those of us in the business would say WAG (wild a@# guess).

For anyone who thinks we can predict ice sheet melt or sea level rise 50 to 100 years in the future, i ask these questions: Ok, so we limit CO2 emissions. To what level? Why? What is the "ideal" climate we are trying to achieve? What specific effects, and over what time period, do we expect to see in order to know our plan is working? How are those defined? By whom? What cost are we willing to bear?

Finally, can someone clearly articulate WHY these initiatives, as drafted, are such an emergency we need to pass them now? We have an economy that is in dire straits and we are broke. We cannot possibly afford these open-ended mandates.

As a citizen and a taxpayer, I demand rigor in the process. Will a statesman please step forward and introduce some sanity.
- Andrew, Bedford

Term limits for all these clowns-throw the bums out in all parties
- Dave, littleton

I love reading these crazy posts. Mrs. Shea-Porter does not dodge questions or avoid answering them. I've known of several people who have contacted her office and not had the problems some of you describe. Every office has some glitches. If any of you believe that any members of Congress have read the entire bill then you are crackers. That's why they have staff, cuz it's not possible to read every bill in it's entirety. She has been a far better rep than Bradley. Please fellow voters, don't look at the percentage of how often someone votes with their part...look at what they are voting on and how they voted. Then you can determine with true evidence and not party-line-hype whether you think they vote appropriately. So far, I'm still with Shea-Porter. Jeb's just showing his sour grapes...AGAIN.
- Cheryl, Derry

Hypocrites can rarely see their own hypocrisy. Its either that or they just don't care. Either way, fix it in 2010.
- Craig, Manchester

Jeb, you need to focus on State Government and attack Lynch. Whoever heard of a State Senator attacking a sitting Congresswoman he lost twice to, unless he was thinking about running against her again? Is it possible? A Gunita/Bradley Primary? A Shea-Porter/Bradly drag out affair again. Stay tuned....................
- Jack Truman, Middleton, NH

I think it great they (Carol, Paul, and Jeanne, not to mention Gary Way from Bedford) think that it is OK to dodge potentially disagreeable questions! OMG, it is Bush's fault, just keep saying that! It is a New England tradition to have spirited debate, heck, the School Board meetings here in Bedford are famous for that, but that is the job of the School Board members to do that. It is OK to not want to do your job, to assume that you will be unpopular amongst your relatively, but it is also OK to not hire you again. Even the noted radical right winger Hillary Clinton said that debate is patriotic.
Gary Way: Do you really think that Chief Dave Bailey cannot handle the "radical" 80 year olds that might show up at a meeting at Bedford High?
Hint Carol (I know you are not very smart): it is your job.
- Gary Hoffman, Bedford

The democratic party is counting on the "short memory" of voters. There are studies which indicate voters typically weigh events within the prior 6 months to an election far more heavily than the two year term of our congressional representatives. They are counting on putting all these bills over on us now, and come election time, they will attempt to head back to the middle of the road to entice us to vote for them. Watch and see how quickly they attempt to moderate their extremely liberal positions come next year. They play us all for suckers, and could care less what we, the voters, want. They believe in voting their "consciences" as opposed to voting in line with how their districts want them to vote. If they should be unseated while following queen nancy's ultra-liberal agenda, they have been promised high-paying lobbyist jobs in Washington. The threat to throw them out of office, while concerning to them, doesn't carry the gravity that we would expect, due to their ability to work the political lobbying system. A law that would be a great way to clean up the government, aside from term limits, would be to prohibit them, or any relatives, from holding lobbying positions for five years after they leave office, and from working for any company that has benefited from their vote on any legislation. Til we make these types of reforms, they will continue to thumb their noses at us with virtual impunity.
- Kevin, Campton

Why would any elected official (from Alderman or Selectman to President) be expected to report back and answer to their constituents? For decades, elected officials have deceived and lied to us yet; we elect and reelect them year after year.

Couple the above with our current “Nanny State”, we need them more than they need our votes. After all, we’re more dependent on them. Why wouldn’t we vote them again?
- Wally, Manchester, NH

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi calls the public discussion over healthcare reform "un-American" as if to say "how DARE you question those of us in authority.

But didn't Hillary provide us with the following advice:

"I'm sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and disagree with this administration, somehow you're not patriotic. We need to stand up and say we're Americans, and we have the right to debate and disagree with any administration."

Just a little hypocrisy from the left to match that which we receive from the right...
- Collin, Manchester

Carol Shea Porter will not hold town hall meetings simply because she and her liberal gang have their own agenda, one that doesn’t coincide with the peoples will. Another reason is because she doesn’t believe the citizens she is supposed to represent have anything worth listening to and frankly doesn’t care. Her sole mission is pushing through and carrying out Obama’s and Nancy Pelosi’s ideas and instructions. The people be dammed!
- Rob, Manchester

Carol Shea Porter will not hold town hall meetings simply because she and her liberal gang have their own agenda, one that doesn’t coincide with the peoples will. Another reason is because she doesn’t believe the citizens she is supposed to represent have anything worth listening to and frankly doesn’t care. Her sole mission is pushing through and carrying out Obama’s and Nancy Pelosi’s ideas and instructions. The people be dammed!
- Rob, Manchester

Jeb Bradley and his right wing nut case supporters have no credibility when it comes to budgetary prudence. Congresswoman Shea-Porter is doing an excellent job addressing the problems given to us by the Republican President and Congress of which Bradley was a member. A trillion dollar war? Tax cuts for the rich? A prescription drug plan? None of them were paid for. Jed must have been out holding town hall meetings and missed the discussion on the need to pay for these plans he supported.
- ed, londonderry

1st: Which house controls the spending in Washington?? Nope, not the White House, the House of Representatives.

2. Who has been in contol of the House of Representatives since 2006? That's right, the Democrats. (Bush is guilty of signing the Budgets they passed, and , yes, probably without reading them)

3. Who caused the housing/financing issues that caused the overheated economy to go BUST???? Yup, Barney Frank and his Democrat colleagues adding in rules to force banks to loan to those who simply could not afford it. (Yup in a Republican Congress)

4. Perhaps these Town Hall meetings wouldn't be so contentious if they were not trying to shove socialism down our throats.

Final Thoughts: Until BOTH PARTIES put aside their PARTY loyalties and focus on what is best for the nation, we will continue to disintegrate and sell ourselves off. (In other words, I think our schools should start teaching our children how to say "YES Master!" in Chinese)

Funny how everyone on the left is blasting the messenger in this article but not addressing the issue that Ms. Shea-Pelosi...I mean Shea-Porter... will not even face or answer her Constituents.
- Mark, Manchester

I wonder if there is a few Shea-Porter supporters who make to much money willing to help pay for the rehab our seniors are stuck with by Ms. Shea-Porter and the Pelosi Tax and Spenders who forgot they are Servants to the people and this is not about Govt but about the people. We need HC reform, not a killer tax to further bankrupt America. VOTE THEM ALL OUT OF WASH.
- RJ- Veteran, Manchester

Jeb Bradley has raised some good points regarding health care, deficits, the stimulus bill and Rep Shea-Porter's unwillingness to answer constitutents questions. She has time to speak at a Netroot National conference in Pittsburgh over the weekend and not to her constituents? Is she more beholden to national special interests than to her constituents? I think we now have the answer, based on her recent activities and voting patterns. She campaigned in 2006 on speaking your mind and working for New Hampshire constituents. Obviously a campaign slogan only. I voted for Shea-Porter in 2006 because I believed Jeb Bradley and the Republican party had let me down. Now Shea-Porter is doing the same thing. She won't answer my questions and make herself available, so I guess she will have to hear my voice at the ballot box in 2010. I hope other like-minded independent voters will hold her accountable, just as we did held Jeb Bradley accountable in 2006.
- Nicole Kantelis, Greenland

I saw U.S. Rep Carol Shea-Porter in the district, her picture was attacheds to the side of a milk carton...
- Dale A., Manchester

Jeb, you're a liberal so I guess you know one when you see one.

Let's make one thing very clear for those who won't be checking voting records in the house because it takes a lot of time to cull that information. Yes Jeb Bradley voted the majority of the time with Bush on his positions on legislation but so did Nancy Pelosi! It is nothing more than mudslinging in the most partisan manner possible to suggest that because Jeb Bradley did something that every Congressional and Senatorial representative did as well. What Jeb didn't do is vote greater than 99% of the time in lock step with his party as has Shea-Porter.

So New Hamphire, you decide which is better:

Bradley approximately 80% vote party line.
Shea-Porter approximately 99% vote party line.

Which one represented you?
- Don Diamant, Milton, NH

Carol Shea-Porter's silence speaks volumes about what she thinks of her constituents.
- michael c, londonderry

Move on, Jeb. This obsession with getting back the job you lost -- twice -- is unhealthy.
- Bill, Londonderry

Maybe I should run for the position; at least I don't have a track record yet.

My biggest fault is that I'm not much of a compromiser. If a bill contained something that I thought was a bad thing, I'd vote against it even if it had a buch of good sections in it. Of course my logic is that bad legislation accumulates like cholesterol in the arteries and eventually causes bureaucratic angina and fiscal-political heart attacks.

So, who would vote for a guy who demands a balanced budget, is pro-individual rights, and wants to get rid of rules, regulations, statutes, and laws instead of passing more?
- Michael D. Houst, Barrington, NH

Excellent questions, Senator. I would add a sixth:

After decades of Congress' raiding of social security and medicare funds for unrelated purposes and after decades of government's inability to eliminate fraud those programs are sliding into near-term bankruptcy.

Why on earth would any sane person believe that Congress and the administration would do any better running a health care option?

Yes, it's trite, but those who ignore history are condemned to repeat it. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me!

Finally, Senator, why do you not mention Shea-Porter's cowardly collegues, Rep. Hodes and Senator Shaheen who are also hiding from constituants?
- Patriot Paul, Hampton

Choosing between a party that wastes money on foreign wars and a party who wastes money indulging Americans, I'll take the latter every time. Sorry GOP.
- Chip, Wilton

Senator Bradley,
I’m compelled to rebut your claims in order:

1. When will the stimulus start working? Newly unemployed is down to 1/3 of what it was 6 months ago. Total unemployment dropped in July. It’s working now Jeb.

2. …how can you support this soaring deficit and increased taxes? The soaring deficit was launched under President Bush to 1 Trillion fighting wars, and TARP was enacted under his administration also. President Bush pushed the Medicare drug plan through without paying for it. President Obama has stated empathically that health care reform has to pay it’s own way, and can’t add to the deficit. Yes, taxes will go up for the rich to help pay for health reform, but not for Joe the Plumber!


3. The Heritage Foundation? Please get real. You might as well have referenced Rush Limbaugh for your facts. Gee, didn’t we just get a wind power farm in Coos County? Old jobs may be lost, but new employment opportunities will replace and exceed them.

4. I think we’re talking about insulation here Jeb. I don’t know how anyone in NH could afford to heat a 200-year-old home without it.


5. Again, the Heritage Foundation has no credibility for your argument. If 85 million people were to lose their private insurance, which I doubt, it would only be because they got a better deal by going to the public option or one of the other private companies that would now be available to them. There were projections that Americans would be better off with the public option. That’s why the health industry cartel has all the US Senators in their back pocket, Senator Baucus is the worst of the bunch, and they appear to be successful in keeping us from getting better and cheaper health insurance. The private health insurance industry is winning. America is the loser here.
- Gary Way, Bedford

Jim in Raymond why is it you and others have to take a whole group and berate them for the foolish acts of a very few? Why is it you cannot also talk about the protesters from the "other" side that beat people up, intimidate them and act just as foolish. There is no doubt that there are morons out there. As for assualt rifles I have not ever heard of that. Yes the one guy had a gun in his VEHICLE and not on him but that was a hand gun. Those from Maine that try and support a NH congress member in realityhas no credence. You left so worry about your Maine delegation. One thing she ran on was Bradleys voting record and voting with his party. The question is where is her "independent" voice as she has done the same with her party while in office? Say what you want but at least Bradley would respond to your questions even if you did not like his answers.
Anyway the point here is Shea-Porters inability to let her constituants ask questions. I too have written her several times only to get no response. I will agree I think it is safe to say that a majority of Congress has not read that legislation and those that have probably have a hard time deciphering it. I know I do. The biggest point is we all have a right to question our political representatives. By not doing so maybe the voters will speak again next year and change the absolute disregard for the voters that Shea-Porter shows now?
- Bill B., Pelham

UL Readers, please don't focus on the messenger but the messages:
* Carol Shea-Porter rarely answers specific questions with specific answers if she answers at all.
* I am willing to bet she still hasn't read any of these bills completely but is taking the lead from Pelosi.
* The adminstration is claiming victory with the stimulus so return the balance to use who paid for it thur our taxes.
* Finally any wonder why she is hiding from the public, no not because some people may yell, (BTW I saw both sides yelling in Portsmouth!). I bet it is because she has no answers for her constituents in District 1, just the boiler garbage from the adminsitration et al.
- Paul, Candia

During reasonable times I would agree with Jeb Bradley.

Fox News and the UL are condoning the abuse of the town hall meeting, however. They are normalizing a riot type behavior, and they are condoning that type of behavior.

Town hall meetings are very useful for civil disagreement, and rational exchange of information and ideas.

That is not what is being created in this Fox/UL/Jeb "Double Our National Debt in a Great Economy" Bradley era.

You are using town hall meetings to create unsafe conditions. That is an abuse of the town hall meetings, it is disgusting, irresponsible, and jeopardizes town hall meetings use and usefulness.

Condemn this behavior, Big Government Republican Jeb Bradley. And you might want to condemn your past support for the partial birth abortion procedure, too, while you are at it.
- Bob Jean, Northwood, NH 03261

Give it up, Jeb. You had your chance. Voters saw that you did nothing for them and rejected your candidacy - twice.

Now you take to the (semi-) friendly pages of the UL to recycle Republican talking points, all the same ones that got us into this mess in the first place.

If I get you right, you're saying we should do nothing about global warming or health care? Or the economy. If we want to see real trouble, we could just put your team back in office.

Jeb, you need to settle back into the obscurity you've attained since November.
- Bill Duncan, New Castle

"I'd like Jeb Bradley to explain the wisdom of the Republican's tax cut, passed under George Bush, which cost the American taxpayer over 1 trillion dollars."

Dave - tax cuts don't "cost" the government anything. It's not an expenditure because it is not their money in the first place.

Shea-Porter's refusal to make herself accountable to her constituents is not acceptable. However, she can only hide for so long - in 2010 she and many other Democrats will be swept out of office by the same "angry mob" showing up at these town hall meetings to voice their concerns.
- Tom, Campton

Any of these questions is better than the 20 Gotchas that Kathy Sullivan submitted recently.

One overriding question: Rep. Shea-Porter, what aspect of your experience, training, campaigning, or education in office enables you (or the President) to state with certainty that 16, the percentage of so-called "national income" that we spend on health care, is the wrong number?
- Spike, Brentwood NH

Why are we even wasting any time or space on anything Jeb has to say? He's yesterday's news and the last two congressional elections have shown that a majority of NH voters could care less about Jeb's positions. He had his chance and he made his choices that were in Bush's interest and not NH's interest.

Elections have consequences, Jeb, it's time for you to return to your seat at the back of the bus.
- Bob V, Manchester

I love the posters to this column who for what ever reason and fail to acknowledge as fact the dismal performance of the democrat party and Miss Porter’s avoidance of meeting with the people she is meant to serve. Even when you write our current leadership you get a generic letter back claiming he or she is doing the work of the people while never does the reply answer the questions asked. How that is serving the people is beyond me.

As a conservative leaning independent voter I'm not too thrilled with either party at the moment having Democrats who should rename themselves to the Socialist party and Republicans who don't even hold true to the conservative values they claim to represent. But never will I lend an ear to those who come one hear to insult others or point fingers in an attempt to distract other readers away from the issue being discussed.

Both sides best remember that New Hampshire’s largest voting block are the Independents regardless of what the blind faith followers of our current leadership want you to believe. I for one will be looking closer at the Libertarian party come next election in the hopes the snake does not have three heads.
- Deb, Derry

Don't let reality influence your opinions, already in full fettle. I have been that close to CSP several times. Listened to her answer questions and explain what is going on in Congress these days. I must comment that I was not completely pleased but put her rather middle of the road positions down to part of the old compromise to get something accomplished politics now lying dead under the steam roller of the wing nut right's yelling and disruption. She seems to be trying to represent all of us, getting stuff for veterans, the poor, the sick - in short what I want from my representative. She isn't under the thumb of the drug companies and the insurance companies as she takes none of their money. Only representative I have ever had like that.
- Robert, Deerfield

I have contacted Shea-Porter's office several times by telephone and e-mail on Veteran's issues and on this health care bill. She has one particularly useless staffer who, each time, would promise to "get back to you next week". (I'm still waiting, Olga). Well, if those promises could be called what they really are and used where they belong I guess I would have the greenest garden in New Hampshire. Shea-Porter hasn't ever responded to my e-mail questions about the health care bill. I guess that means I have been placed on her promise-list.
- Bruce, Derry

Jeb,
I was at your town hall meeting and as I recall questions were asked and you were allowed to answer them. There were also no people outside with assault rifles, no one made death threats and the meeting was quite civil.

What we have now is people whos intent is to shut down all conversation. These people have every right to ask questions however they do not have the right to act like an angry dangerous mob.

Now you’re here egging these insane people on, to what end and based on what information Jebb?

And you Mr. Bradley presided over the loss of 22 trillion dollars out of this economy, you lost your position because of that fact and you also lost your credibility to complain about the budget. You spent 8 years destroying the middle class and did NOTHING to address our concerns while you were in a position to do so. You didn’t see us outside with guns and threats. Of course at your town hall you had agents taking dissenters names down and at Bush’s town halls dissenters were not allowed in and protesters were corralled in cages miles away, you supported all that Mr. Bradley, how “patriotic” of you.

You people have made it unsafe for anyone who supports this bill to speak of it in public. The sad part is that it’s all based on false information and you know that.

Civil debate is perfectly fine but expecting us to bow to fear tactics and mob rule is absolutely Un-American. You should be encouraging civility and instead you try to inflame the situation.

You know exactly what you’re doing Jebb and so do we.
- Jim, Raymond NH

Jeb Bradley has any credence in New Hampshire? Has anyone on here seen the Shea-Porter/Bradley debates? I have. Does anyone here know of Jeb Bradley's record in Congress? Do you know that the people of New Hampshire spoke with their votes? I think Carol Shea-Porter has done an admirable job representing New Hamphire and its citizens. And does Tim Moore really understand how Congress works? And Tim, do you really believe that all Congresspeople and Republicans read every page of every bill that comes before them? Do you think that this has ever been the case? And Tim and the other right wing ideologues on here: can you name exactly how Ms. Shea-Porter has failed New Hamphire and her people? No you can't. It's funny I still get my email newsletter regularly from Congressperson Carol Shea-Porter outlining her stances and actions and she is very precise about her work. Can any of you read?
- Tom, Dover-Foxcroft, Me.

It's rich for a Republican to start crowing about deficits....

Given what we know now about the deficit, the economy, and the climate, I'd like Jeb Bradley to explain the wisdom of the Republican's tax cut, passed under George Bush, which cost the American taxpayer over 1 trillion dollars. Was a tax break for some of the most affluent people in the world a good idea for America? That money sure could come in handy about now.
- Dave, Sandwich

Question Jeb Bradley has to answer: Based on your recent failures in elections and lack of support in the party, are you the best person to question the effectiveness of Shea-Porter?
- Steve B, Derry

It's all the fault of her staff who didn't make any plans for her. Kind of like I didn't vote because I missed Nancy's cue.

But be pro active! Take your lists of questions to one of her local offices and engage the staff in some discussion. The office hours are posted for the public. Each and every voter should make a list and request answers to questions like Jeb raises and others. How much pork in total did she vote to spend? Maybe what percentage of the pork she voted for went to NH? Why does she support adding pork to bills when we are already in dire financial straights? I'm sure her cracker jack staff will have the answers that she would give in a face to face meeting.

The staff is there to meet the public even if she won't.
- Paul, Dover

Is Jeb running for Congress again? Who else is running for the GOP?
- John, Candia

Here are the predicted answers to these questions:

1. We inherited this mess from Bush. The stimulus is already working. It has saved over 2 million jobs that would have been lost. It would have been even worse without my program. I have fired the aide that told me 8 percent would be the highest. He was a public school graduate and was not familiar with percentages.

2. Please refer to answer #1.

3. I will never raise taxes on the middle class. But it is our responsibility to save the planet. Most of our jobs are in China and India now anyway, so what is your beef? At least while Americans wait on the bread line they can wait in clean air, and feel that they have done something good for the world for the first time in our history.

4. That's too bad for the people living in old homes. Maybe they should have thought about what they did to this land and the rest of the world and planet when they settled here.

5. First of all, please remember what I campaigned on; I warned Americans that they would need to sacrifice. I warned all of you out there that there were things you'd been enjoying that you were going to have to give up. I never said anything about me, my family and friends and Congress. That's for you, we're part of the privileged class.

Do you have a giant 747 all to yourself that you can vacation in all over the world?
- Melvin, Keene

Great questions Senator Bradley. To bad Shea-Porter is hiding from us Distrcit 1 voters. We (Voters) need answers from our reps, they forget who they represent and why they are in Washington. I predict she will be history along w/a lot of other Democrats who refuse to stand up for what the voters who elected them want. We want fiscal reponsibility and less government intrusion. We don't have either w/this administration. Were is the openess in govermnment promised to us? Well, you voted for "Change", how do you like it so far?
- Michael King, Epping

The Democrats simply cannot be trusted with money. My money, your money our money. They think it is their money. It is not. They have been wasting the accumulated wealth of this nation in a little more than 6 months. That takes more than just a lack of competence.

Now, they at least have some sense of the anger of their constituents and are afraid of them.

I have learned patience in my life and I will not forget them when the voting booths are open again.
- Bob, Salem

Carol Shea- Porter, like Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank and most of their cohorts, seem to have forgotten that they are representatives of their constituents and not rulers. They were elected to represent us, not to govern us. It's time they started listening to their constituents and voting in accordance with our wishes.
- Brian, Farmington

Yes Carol Shea Porter does have a lot to atone for and only the voters if NH can hold her accountable. At present I am in Baghdad. Prior to leaving I called Congresswoman Porter’s office in an effort to get a straight answer from her staff on question 4 that Senator Bradley asks in this Op-Ed. Like a cheap ambulance chasing lawyer the staff supervisor tried qualifying his statement with regard to reading the proposed Healthcare bill end to end.

“Well we have very qualified staff members and we split the bill up…” No you are not answering my question “Is Congresswoman Porter going to personally read the entire bill (HC Legislation that is put in front of her for a vote on the Committee) end to end, every word, every page?

“Well she is quite familiar with her areas of responsibility…” Again you are avoiding my question. This is a simple yes or no. Is she going to read any bill put in front of her end to end in its entirety?

Again the Staff member tried “Lawyering Up” on me and I refused to allow him to do this. The call ended abruptly when he hung up. The bottom line here is Congresswoman Porter has not been and does not intend to be answerable to the voters of New Hampshire. This should set off every single responsible voter in NH whether you are a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian or Independent. She has failed NH so many times during her time in elected office. When is NH going to hold her responsible?
- Timothy Moore, Still in Baghdad....