Annan: Average Iraqi's life is worse now

[dnpmakkah]

Speaking to the British Broadcasting Corp., Annan agreed that the average Iraqi's life is worse now than it was under Saddam Hussein and called the situation in the country "extremely dangerous."

In the BBC interview, Annan agreed when it was suggested that some Iraqis believe life is worse now than it was under Saddam Hussein's regime.

"I think they are right in the sense of the average Iraqi's life," Annan said. "If I were an average Iraqi obviously I would make the same comparison, that they had a dictator who was brutal but they had their streets, they could go out, their kids could go to school and come back home without a mother or father worrying, 'Am I going to see my child again?'
LINK HERE

Finally someone else sees the truth and has enough guts to say something about it. I look at this as another sign that invading Iraq has been a complete failure.

[DarthMonk]

... consider inserting "and utter" before the word "failure."

I think Kerry (in a debate) called it a "colossal error in judgement." He was right on that one.

BTW, government estimates put Iraqi civilian deaths at

HALF A MILLION!!

DarthMonk

[UK Skins Fan]

Now, this isn't necessarily relevant, but I'd have loved Mr Annan to have appeared on Iraqi television 10 years ago, and suggest that Saddam's regime was ever so slightly unpleasant.

Up to now, the invasion has failed, because it hasn't achieved it's objectives (whatever you think they were), but I hardly think that Kofi Annan restating his well known opposition to the war represents a significant shift in the political debate on this one.

[ATV]

First Lieutenant Gerard Dow, 32, of Chicago, Ill.: "In Iraq, we try to win the hearts and minds of population. They want Americans out of here. They blame us for all their problems. They look at us as the terrorists and then they turn around and help the terrorists who are trying to kill us…. U.S. soldiers are dying trying to help people who don't want their help."

[Cappster]

"I think they are right in the sense of the average Iraqi's life," Annan said. "If I were an average Iraqi obviously I would make the same comparison, that they had a dictator who was brutal but they had their streets, they could go out, their kids could go to school and come back home without a mother or father worrying, 'Am I going to see my child again?'

The part in bold doesn't make sense. When you have a BRUTAL dictator, YOUR CHILD MAY NOT COME HOME AGAIN. On top of that, the mother and father may never come home again. Kofi Annan is mad that his funds are cut of from the "oil for food" scandal. I am not saying that life in Iraq is good. In fact it probably is worse than when Saddam was in power but to say that the Iraqi's were practically "safe" when Saddam was in charge is ludicrous.

I am sure the Kurds felt REAL SAFE when Saddam was in power.

[UK Skins Fan]

The Kurds probably didn't feel safe, but at least they probably knew who the bad guys were. Now, nobody knows.

[thaiphoon]

Considering this is the same guy who presided over the "Oil for Food Scandal" and did major CYA to help many in the UN avoid getting caught red-handed... I'd say his comments were rather amusing.

[KazooSkinsFan]

Considering this is the same guy who presided over the "Oil for Food Scandal" and did major CYA to help many in the UN avoid getting caught red-handed... I'd say his comments were rather amusing.

You mean like his son? You have to admit though he did deal with corruption in the UN. He perfected it. Adctually, not an easy task given their level of corruption before. Yes, being called a crook by a thief isn't particularly stinging.