California GOP Official Gets Stuck In Iraq Chaos

Ron Nehring, the vice chairman of the California Republican Party, has been in Baghdad for a first-hand glimpse of the war. He went there to train Iraqis on democracy through a group called the International Republican Institute, which says it promotes the free market and "rule of law" around the world.

Let's just say there wasn't much rule of law while Nehring was in Baghdad. You can sense how chaotic the situation has become there in just a few posts.

Nov. 22 posting:

"Those I met with are good people, genuinely interested in building a new country for a new generation. It’s very different than what we see on television, which typically highlights divisions and difficulties that make for better ratings than less alarmist progress and diligence."

Three days later:

"Since arriving here last Sunday I’ve had my luggage lost, car bombs detonated outside of the building where I was lecturing, mortar fire within easy earshot, flights canceled, and now uncertainty about just when I will have the opportunity to return to California."

Lisa Gates with the International Republican Institute said today that Nehring and his group have left Iraq. The Baghdad airport appears to have reopened after bomb blasts in the Sadr City slum killed more than 200 people, but Baghdad remains in chaos.