With the daily barrage of network media "hyped" stories on the varied problems the Coalition and the Iraqi people themselves face in the post-Saddam Iraq, one might get the impression that nothing has gone right for them...and to a small extent that is true but the media has tenacious appitite for pushing the so-called "hard-hitting" stories i.e. attacks on coalition/Iraqi forces then reporting on other so-called "soft" stories..i.e. anything that's not related to the attacks such as re-building efforts. Personally, I prefer to hear all sides...good and bad to make my own mind up bout an issue...sadly this is seldom the case (so much for even-handed reporting).
One recent event that took place....and was hardly even reported at all was the fact that as of a few weeks ago the United Nations has shut down the Ashrafi refugee camp based in southwestern Iran. The camp was one of the largest throughout the region that housed the multitude of Iraqi refugees that fled for one reason or another Saddams regime but since the downfall of that said regime and its petty dictator residing in a jailcell (awaiting a lovely war crimes tribunial) Iraqi exiles have begun a slow but steady return to their former homeland.
While the return of exiles doesnt neccessarily equate to a positive sign by itself...there are others...first off since the fall of the regime, Iraqi unemployment has dropped off by 50% and wages have begun to climb (I'm sure the Useful Idiots out there will take that to mean Bush is forgetting the US ecconomy somehow). Other positive signs signs show a marked increase in the private ownership and use of cars in Iraq ( opps..looks like the eco-weinies are gonna shit) and 2,500 schools have been renovated and opened by the US-led coalition, spending on healthcare has risen by thirty-fold and millions of Iraqi children have been vaccinated. Finally, Iraqi athletes have begun training for an appearence in the summer Olympics in Greece (without Uday's wonderful take on motivational speech's). Are these a sign Iraq has turned the proverbial corner for the better in post-Saddam world? Not hardly, but they are a small start, after all it's only been slightly over a year since the initial invasion of Iraq by the coalition and there are more hurdles to deal with down the road. Only time will truely tell what will become of a free Iraq...good or bad!
I would like to point out with regards to the anti-war rhetoric that was said just prior to the war...."As the dogs of war slouch towards Baghdad, we need to be reminded that as many as 2million refugees could become a reality, as well as half a million fatalities"....Martin Sheen ....actor/activist...(sorry Martin..remember your only an actor who plays the president on TV)
There was no humanitarian crisis as was predicted...there wasnt 500,000 fatalities as was predicted..go figure?
One final note among many surveys taken in Iraq, one by Oxford Research International lists some interesting stats...bout 60% of Iraqis say that their lives are better off now than before the war; only bout 16% say theirs are worse. Fully 71% expect their lives to be even better one year from now with bout 7% saying they will be worse off. Simply put...the Iraqis are a very optimistic people who seek a better life......but then don't we all!