during the Saddam years, anyone plotting against the Govt. was done away with. BUt the others were assured of security on the streets, food, electricity and the basic essentials of life. Today that is gone.
anyone Saddam THOUGHT was plotting against the Govt was done away with - and that could be YOU, anywhere, anytime, esp. if you were Kurd or Shia.
Now it's true that Saddam's regime provided order on the street. Police states generally do, because they have all the criminals either in jail or on the secret police payroll. But that doesn't mean it was an acceptable situation, either then or for the future.
The latest poll of Iraqis, asked if Iraq is moving in the right direction, said over 60% 'yes'. Which, considering everything, is quite a testament to where it's coming from.
Of course, the police blotter reporting from inside the Green Zone does tend to put the worst face on things. Any part of Iraq where things aren't blowing up will not get reported, period. |
