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Now wait a minute! Here we are with the devastation in Iraq taking an even more tragic dip last week; President Bush was telling reporters (and tell-ing reporters…and telling reporters…) that things are "tough" over there at this time; and our servicemen and women have been told their anticipated trip home will be delayed at least three months….And y’know what? A dealership for new cars is opening in the middle of Baghdad! Can you believe it? According to a dispatch from wire services to the New York Post last week, the assistant general manager of the new Hyundai show-room said he had already sold 38 of the vehicles — at an affordable price — from their glass-front showroom, noting that the cars are "affordable and reliable." Along with the story is a Reuters photo with a salesman showing a car to a prospective buyer. They are both well-dressed, with the dealer looking like a sport who just came in from the golf course and the person who might have bought the car dressed in traditional Arab clothing. Except for the latter’s clothing, the photo might have been taken on Flatbush Avenue just north of Kings Plaza! Since the article was planted in the middle of others highlighting blood and guts and devastation and battlefields, my first impression in seeing it was, "But I thought, uh…Isn’t there a war going on there?" The next thought was, "How dumb can a guy be?" The next: "How much insurance must this dealer have, what insurance company must he be using, and how much are his premiums?" Of course, the answer is most likely that he’s probably using my insurance company, seeing what my payments are. It’s no joking matter, of course. Nothing in a war zone can possibly be. But you must admit there is some sort of irony there. No wonder the President stammered a lot when he was talking to reporters in his news conference. There are indeed mixed messages somewhere. I believed President Bush when he admitted he has to act on information given to him by trusted agencies and individuals. Unfortunately, it’s clear to see they are obviously not to be trusted anymore. Did the latest news he’d received from the CIA (etc.) in Bagh-dad include the item about the Hyundai car dealer? I guess not. Otherwise he would have heralded the banner grand opening as a high point in the ISBA (Iraq Small Business Administration) "Let’s Get Back To Business 2004" campaign. It won’t be long before you see a (Reuters) photo of the new car dealer being given a summons by one of those Baghdad police officers for having litter strewn across the front of the place! And, hey, let’s not forget the Ford Taurus franchise deal subsidized by Vice President Cheney’s Halliburton Co., not to mention the oodles of service stations (also Halliburton subsidiaries) with the oil changes coming from underground. Unfortunately, it will take a little time before a car wash would be appropriate. (HEAD): Starrett Soldier Graduates from Basic Training Army National Guard Pvt. Wilson J. Delgado has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises. Delgado is the son of Yolandsa Delgado of Twin Pines Drive, Starrett City.
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