U.S. Occupation of Iraq More Than Doubles Poverty, Sickness - Leaves Country A Disaster

[Hissyspit]

Adil E. Shamoo, born and raised in Baghdad, is a professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He is a contributor to Foreign Policy In Focus.


http://www.alternet.org/story/147928/u.s._occupation_of_iraq_more_than_doubles_poverty%2C_sickness_--_leaves_country_a_total_disaster

U.S. Occupation of Iraq More Than Doubles Poverty, Sickness -- Leaves Country a Total Disaster

The American public has no idea just how terrible we've made conditions in Iraq.


http://www.fpif.org/articles/what_you_will_not_hear_about_iraq

What You Will Not Hear About Iraq

By Adil E. Shamoo, August 20, 2010

Iraq has between 25 and 50 percent unemployment, a dysfunctional parliament, rampant disease, an epidemic of mental illness, and sprawling slums. The killing of innocent people has become part of daily life. What a havoc the United States has wreaked in Iraq.

UN-HABITAT, an agency of the United Nations, recently published a 218-page report entitled State of the World’s Cities, 2010-2011. The report is full of statistics on the status of cities around the world and their demographics. It defines slum dwellers as those living in urban centers without one of the following: durable structures to protect them from climate, sufficient living area, sufficient access to water, access to sanitation facilities, and freedom from eviction.

Almost intentionally hidden in these statistics is one shocking fact about urban Iraqi populations. For the past few decades, prior to the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, the percentage of the urban population living in slums in Iraq hovered just below 20 percent. Today, that percentage has risen to 53 percent: 11 million of the 19 million total urban dwellers. In the past decade, most countries have made progress toward reducing slum dwellers. But Iraq has gone rapidly and dangerously in the opposite direction.

According to the U.S. Census of 2000, 80 percent of the 285 million people living in the United States are urban dwellers. Those living in slums are well below 5 percent. If we translate the Iraqi statistic into the U.S. context, 121 million people in the United States would be living in slums.

MORE

Yay. We "won."

Yay... :(- H'spit

[Lasher]

1. So what did we go there for? I keep getting confused about that.

At one time it was freedom for Iraqis, something like that. I don't imagine all those slum dwellers feel like their freedom has improved.

[Hubert Flottz]

7. Halliburton just got a new contract in Iraq...

"Victory" for Dick Cheney and company.

Oil's well that ends well.

[Lasher]

11. That's the first time I've heard about that as an objective.

I'll bet you got some scoop from somebody who was on Lord Vader's double dog secret energy task force. Which reminds me, I thought Obama was going to release that shit.

[Hubert Flottz]

13. I read just the other day that the Iraqis awarded Halliburton a

contract to develop a "hugh" new oil field somewhere in Iraq.

Oil was the prize all along, along with an American base of operations in the Middle East like the PNAC had so longed for.

50,000 ground troops close to the Iraq/Iran border, another 100,000 plus in Afghanistan and seaborne task forces surrounding the area...the PNAC's greasy dream. Protect the OIL! The taxpayers are paying for the oil tycoon's security around the globe, while the oil companies rob us at the gas pumps.

[Lasher]

14. Plus Sadam tried to kill Junior's daddy.

I hope he feels better about that now.

[Hubert Flottz]

15. A falling out among thieves?

I thought Saddam was Poppy's old buddy...

[Lasher]

17. Well I know Saint Ronnie sent Rummy to give him a blowjob.

But I thought Poppy was more fond of Iran.

[Hubert Flottz]

18. All members of the Bush Gang turn on their partners at the drop of

a hat and they drop the hat. Poppy was For Saddam before he was against him.

[Lasher]

19. And bin Laden was a freedom fighter backed by Saint Ronnie and Poppy.

Before he decided to freedom fight against us.

[Hubert Flottz]

21. The Bin Laden Klan donated money to Poppy's and W's political campaigns

So W helped the Bin Laden crew get out of the US right after 9/11 when every other non military plane in the country was grounded. Less than four months before 9/11, W gave the Tali ban 50 million American dollars. The bad guys probably needed the cash to pull off the 9/11 attack.

[Lasher]

23. Nyuck, nyuck! Watch this video of St. Ronnie dedicating the space shuttle to the Taliban.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x498414

[Submariner]

2. The Bush Iraq oil war victory has led to a new breed of terrorist

The Iraqi survivors and relatives will not forget the mayhem Bush brought to Iraq. If I was an Iraqi who lost a loved one to the war, I would probably find it easy to take any opportunity to kill Americans. I wouldn't be surprised if we see an up-tick in Iraqi's killing Americans in the next couple of decades.

The same hate we see that goes from generation to generation between the Israeli's and Palestinians, could be the kind of hate that grows out of the Bush/Cheney bungling and losing of 2 wars.

[Xipe Totec]

3. Don't run, we are your friends! ack! ack! ack!

[Iterate]

4. "Leaves Country A Disaster" -this one or that one?

Since at least 1920 either the US or the British have been pissing around in Iraqi affairs and have not once left them better off for it.

I would argue as well that since that day in December 1983 when Rumsfeld arrived in Baghdad bearing gifts and shook hands with Saddam Hussein it has been a new period of downward spiral for us both. Such is the price of freedom, and it ain't over yet.

[HopeHoops]

5. Yeah, but we HAD to invade. Saddam tried to kill the shrub's daddy!

[billlll]

6. job shortage

I knew we would mess it up as soon as I read of IIRC.....over thirty percent jobless.

Where's the compassion?

[Fumesucker]

8. Mishun Akomppliched!

We turned Iraq into a shining beacon of democracy for the entire world to see.

No fucking wonder Iran wants nuclear weapons.

[malaise]

9. Ding ding

We have a winner - no a bunch of losers. :puke:
I only hope that Bush and his goons will pay for this illegal invasion and occupation.

[grahamhgreen]

10. The war mongers of both parties are sick twisted freaks!

[blindpig]

12. But we have brought them the glories of Capitalism...

how could this be?

Capitalism is only good for the capitalists.

I would really question "...most countries have made progress towards reducing slum dwellers."

[Radical Activist]

16. Another reason why the idea of a humanitarian war is a fraud.

[KamaAina]

20. Meanwhile, they're building a business park at the Baghdad airport

because Western business elites are afraid to travel any farther into the country than that.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66R2PO20100728

Overall violence has dropped significantly in Iraq since the height of sectarian warfare in 2006-07. But bombings and shootings are still occur regularly in Baghdad and elsewhere.

While Iraq has signed eleven deals with global oil companies to develop its richest fields, projects outside the energy sector have rarely gone beyond aspirations. Lingering violence and political uncertainty, four months after an inconclusive election, are keeping most western investors on the sidelines.

To persuade more investors to come, an Iraqi firm is planning to build a "village of businesses" next to Baghdad airport, a 30-minute drive from the city center, according to Shaker al-Zamili, head of the Baghdad Investment Commission.

The mini-city will offer all amenities for businessmen to strike deals, showcase their products and chill out at night -- offices, hotels and apartments, banks, 119 shops, a petrol station, a car rental agency and even duty-free shops. And there will be restaurants, internet cafes and parks.

Mission Accomplished! :sarcasm:

[Hissyspit]

22. .