MILITARY READER JOHN KLUGE sends a link to this story from the Washington Post, about what he calls the most important aspect of Iraqi reconstruction:

This is the key good news story of the rebuilding of Iraq. Without the commander’s emergency response fund, nothing would ever get done. It’s good to see that someone is finally noticing. Note the international aid groups whining in the article about how the military is not qualified. The genius of the CERPS was that it took the money out of the hands of the bureaucrats and aid groups and gave it directly to the military to use on the ground. If it were up to the aid groups nothing would have ever gotten done.

Wait for someone to attack this procedure, now. . . .

Meanwhile, Iraqis are condemning suicide attacks and blaming foreigners. The Bush plan to establish Iraq as a counterweight to the rest of the Arab world seems to be working. . . .