Voices of Iraqis: more worries than hope

[ProSense]

Voices of Iraqis: more worries than hope

The Associated Press

The Associated Press asked people across Iraq their impressions of issues at the heart of the debates in Washington: security, political stability, the economy and whether they see hope for improvements.

---

Hawerly Ahmed, 43, a Sunni Kurd who works in the municipal offices in the northern city of Sulaimaniyah:

"The economic situation has become very bad. Prices are high and some items are not available. Added to that is the lack of electricity and fuel ... If the Iraqi government still has sectarian motives and militias are active then there is no hope any progress might be made in the future."

---

Abbas Abdul Sadah Khalaf, 37, a Shiite shop owner in the central city of Hillah:

"We haven't seen any improvement in any aspects of life. Quite the opposite, conditions are becoming worse. Raising fuel prices is the main cause, driving all other prices to increase more and more ... The situation is moving from bad to worse under the administration of this government, which doesn't know how to lead this country. The infrastructure is still in ruins and the political power struggle between rivals continues while the country is heading toward collapse. It is a difficult job to mend what you have demolished. The USA is facing a difficult job in Iraq. They are trying their best to find speedy solutions for a big problem they created in Iraq. We are in a dark tunnel looking for a point of light at the other end and everyday is worse than the previous one."

<...>

Murtada Abdul Jabbar, 22, a Shiite street vendor in Basra:

"My life became worse after my father was killed for sectarian motives. The bad security situation forced me and family to leave Baghdad and live in Basra. I lost my job and my properties. I hope that the security situation will be better in the coming year and the general situation will improve."

---

Omar Faruq al-Mshhadani, 38, a Sunni in Ramadi, west of Baghdad:

"There is no stability. Things are deteriorating and there is an increasing burden on people because of the high prices of food and fuel. Rents have become very high as well ... Living standards are very bad."


more

[ProSense]

1. It's not like any of the

Repubs care about the Iraqis' assessment of their quality of life.