I watched the vice-presidential debate last night. Over and over again, Palin referenced the surge, drilling home the its success and challenging Biden on the fact that Obama did not support the surge. I try – really I do – not to post too much about the presidential race, but this issue kept nagging at me. It’s not even a question of whether the media is providing fair and balanced coverage because it is too dangerous for members of the American media to visit most neighborhoods of Baghdad, much less the more remote parts of Iraq.

Today I learned about a series of three videos that have been produced by Ghaith Abdul-Ahad, an Iraqi who grew up in Baghdad and emigrated to Britain. Abdul-Ahad is a reporter for Britain’s highly respected Guardian newspaper, which has a long history of editorial and political independence. He returned to Iraq to determine the truth about the success of the surge. He discovers the real reason that the violence has decreased; throughout the city, 20 miles of 12-foot high walls have been built by the military to separate the Sunni and Shia populations. The surge has left the city more divided and desperate than ever.

Watch part one of the three part series below:

Click on “More” to watch parts two and three: Continue reading →