Iraq is a beacon of hope and democracy in the Middle East??? Check this out...

[rpannier]

‘Untouchable’ corruption in Iraq ministries
Report partially faults PM’s office, says Health Ministry in ‘grip’ of militants

Medicines and supplies have been siphoned off and sold elsewhere because of corruption in the Iraqi government's Ministry of Health, according to a draft U.S. government report obtained by NBC News.


snip

Ministry of Health, which oversees the hospitals, is in the quote "grip" of the Mahdi Army, the anti-American militia run by Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

snip

In the Ministry of Oil — the most important agency for Iraq’s economy — the report said "corruption is a major problem" when it comes to refined oil products, such as gasoline and kerosene. The report said corruption in the oil ministry is partly to blame for lines of cars stretching for miles as Iraqis wait hours to fill up their tanks.

snip

The report also said that an entire battalion of Iraqi police "was found to be nonexistent" and corruption in the army is "widespread," with ghost employees and a shortage of supplies.


link:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20043428/

[Vinca]

1. There you go again . . . good news only, please.

The Iraqis don't have electricity, water or sewage disposal either, but not to worry. The 2 right-leaning journalists who visited for 8 days say we could "actually win" and "things are getting better." What's that old saying about the glass being half empty or half full??

[rpannier]

2. Or...

The glass is only half filled with sewage...

Just only look at the semi-clear muck near the top.