[Christopher Lincoln]

There is no reason to be Pollyannish about Iraq. Like nearly every Arab nation, it is not a competent society at present. Trade, manufacturing, and farming have been suffocated by bad governance. Public servants routinely skim funds.

There is another negative factor in Iraq (and elsewhere), namely Islam. This fact, however regrettable, needs to be pointed out. I believe it was Eric Hoffer who observed, many years ago, that practically everywhere where both Muslims and non-Muslims live, it is the latter who carry on the bulk of the nation's trade. This is true alike where Muslims are the majority and where they are a minority, where Muslims rule and where they are ruled by non-Muslims.

[Coop]

Bump