http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7§ion=0&article=48646&d=20&m=7&y=2004
It was Afghanistan Mk2. For mile after mile south of Baghdad yesterday, the story was the same: Empty police posts, abandoned Iraqi Army and police checkpoints and a litter of burned-out American fuel tankers and rocket-smashed police vehicles down the main highway to Hilla and Najaf.
Iraqi government officials and Western diplomats tell journalists to avoid driving out of Baghdad; now I understand why. It is dangerous. But my own fearful journey far down Highway 8