Iraq, Afghanistan Fail in U.S.-Compiled Democracy Rankings

[maddezmom]

By Brendan Murray

Oct. 16 (Bloomberg) -- The governments of Iraq and Afghanistan for a third straight year received failing grades in key measures of democratic rule on a score-card of poor nations compiled by the Bush administration.

The Millennium Challenge Corp., an agency President George W. Bush established in 2004 to distribute aid, said in reports released today that Iraq and Afghanistan failed their 2007 assessments in six categories of ``ruling justly:'' political rights, civil liberties, control of corruption, government effectiveness, rule of law and accountability.

Bush is attempting to maintain and bolster public support for the continued U.S. military presence in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the MCC reports show that progress in the two countries is incremental.

``Democracy-building is a process and it requires intelligent investments, political commitment and time,'' said Christopher Walker, director of studies at Freedom House, a Washington-based nonprofit group that contributed data to the rankings. ``Expectations of quick changes in any number of countries are really unrealistic.''

more:http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=abLODyD2Yo4E

[laconicsax]

1. Well color me surprised

I had always thought that everything * touched turned out splendid.

[rodeodance]

2. The Millennium Challenge Corp., an agency President George W. Bush

umm.. another agency established by Bush that i was unaware of:



.......The Millennium Challenge Corp., an agency President George W. Bush established in 2004 to distribute aid, said in reports released today that Iraq and Afghanistan failed their 2007 assessments in six categories of ``ruling justly:'' political rights, civil liberties, control of corruption, government effectiveness, rule of law and accountability.

[ninkasi]

4. I thought for a minute this was about us

I was confused...when I read failed at "ruling justly", political rights, civil liberties, control of corruption, government effectiveness, rule of law and accountability, I thought they were talking about the Bush administration. Judging by those standards, Bush fails at "ruling justly." These people have absolutely no sense of irony.

[SpiralHawk]

3. Is "democracy building" somehow differed from "nation building"

Because I distinctly remember the republicons and George aWOL Bush saying they hate nation building.

Bwaaa ha ha ha ha. As if anyone could believe anything they say...