NYTimes -- Across Baghdad, Security Is Only an Ideal

By JOHN F. BURNS

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan. 26 - When American troops entered Baghdad and overthrew the government of Saddam Hussein 21 months ago, Raad al-Naqib felt free at last.

But Dr. Naqib, a 46-year-old Sunni dentist who opposed Mr. Hussein, will not vote Sunday when Iraqis will have their first opportunity in a generation to participate in an election with no predetermined outcome. It is, he said, far too dangerous when insurgent groups have warned that they will kill anybody who approaches a polling station.

Starkly put, Baghdad is not under control, either by the Iraqi interim government or the American military.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/27/international/middleeast/27baghdad.html?oref=login&th

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Interesting, I was watching Countdown last night and a reporter from Newsweek said everything was pretty much "normal" complete with shots of a bustling market and crowded streets.

thanks for the link.