WP: Magazine Ranks Iraq Second Most Unstable Country (Foreign Policy magazine)

Magazine Ranks Iraq Second Most Unstable Country

By Robin Wright
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, June 18, 2007; 11:48 AM

Iraq now ranks as the second most unstable country in the world, ahead of war-ravaged or poverty-stricken countries such as Somalia, Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast, Congo, Afghanistan, Haiti and North Korea, according to the 2007 Failed State index issued today by Foreign Policy magazine and the Fund for Peace.

Despite billions of dollars in foreign aid, and the presence of more than 150,000 American troops, Iraq has been on a steady decline over the past three years, according to the index. It ranked fourth last year, but its score dropped in almost all of the 12 political, economic, security and social indicators on which the index is based.

"The report tells us that Iraq is sinking fast," said Fund for Peace President Pauline Baker. "We believe it's reached the point of no return. We have recommended -- based on studies done every six months since the U.S. invasion -- that the administration face up to the reality that the only choices for Iraq are how and how violently it will break up."

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There are two basic driving forces behind Iraq's escalating problems, Baker said. The first is fragmentation internally, marked by the proliferation of militias and other groups that the United States and Iraqis have been unable to control. The second is interference of external forces in the country.

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In addition to Iraq, the other is Afghanistan. The two are countries where the Bush administration has made enormous military and financial commitments since 2001. Their experiences show that billions of dollars in development and security aid may be futile unless accompanied by a functioning government and plans for peace-keeping and economic development, Foreign Policy reports in its July/August issue, which includes the index.


more...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/18/AR2007061800568.html

When are these so-called experts going to get a clue and realize it's sunk, broken, at the bottom, .... Sort of like when they talk about "stretching" the military. Bush broke it! :banghead:

with Bush** at the helm.

by September. Surprised?

Common sense says that it will no harder to get out now than it will be in September or 2009 or a year after that. Iraq has gone beyond a quagmire. It is simply a disaster. As John Kerry said a generation ago, "Who will be the last to die for a mistake?" Out NOW.