[Mark Felton]

"I think that's urban legend because no matter what anybody says, Iraq is not pacified by any sense."

nonsense. You've fallen prey to leftist hysteria.

Iraq is more pacified than the cities of New York, Wash DC, new Orleans, Los Angeles, and many major US cities.

The violent death rate per 100 thousand in Iraq are about 28, LESS than the murder rate of Wash DC at 35/100k and NEw Orleans, Detroit. venezuela has a violent death rate of 67 per 100k.

Iraq has a population over 26 million. They are pacified by any reasonable measure.

BTW: The primary measure of pacification of a nation after war is determined by the fact that the vanquished nation establishes its own self-governance friendly and passive to the victorious force. That has happened.

[Paul R.]

"The violent death rate per 100 thousand in Iraq are about 28, LESS than the murder rate of Wash DC at 35/100k and NEw Orleans, Detroit. venezuela has a violent death rate of 67 per 100k."

"Wash DC" has been working quite hard to get in the lead, recently...