[jennyp]

It is also a dramatic departure from Saddam Hussein's centralised management of the Iraqi economy, which was reasonably successful in capitalising on the country's oil wealth to build state-of-the-art hospitals, schools and other infrastructure, at least until the upheavals of the Iran-Iraq war, the 1991 Gulf War and the imposition of United Nations sanctions from 1991.

<sniff> another socialist utopia ground down by the Vast International Capitalist Conspiracy!

[Stultis]

It is also a dramatic departure from Saddam Hussein's centralised management of the Iraqi economy, which was reasonably successful in capitalising on the country's oil wealth to build state-of-the-art hospitals, schools and other infrastructure, at least until the upheavals of the Iran-Iraq war, the 1991 Gulf War and the imposition of United Nations sanctions from 1991.

<sniff> another socialist utopia ground down by the Vast International Capitalist Conspiracy!

Saddam might have been even more successful if only he'd made proper use of all his resources, for instance by selling the hair of slaughtered Kurds and Shia for wigs. Doubtless Andrew Gumbel could have advised him.

[Stultis]

For a refreshing contratst, see:

Bolster Freedom, Not Dependence, in Iraq (Heritage Foundation Advises Economic Freedom)