1/29/2004:  We meet with Songol O. Chapook in her office at the Coalition Provisional Authority headquarters. Songol was one of just three women that Paul Bremer appointed to the Governing Council. A professor of civil engineering before she became a political organizer, she represented both the Turkman minority and women on the council. She complained that she had no funding to carry out programs for her constituents.  It took us more than an hour make our way through all the security checkpoints. One 19 year old soldier from Texas told us that he was bored with his security assignment and would much rather be kicking in doors and busting heads.

Copyright 2005 Leslie Hope www.lahope.com