Quote:
Originally Posted by Upton
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10)Myth: Iraq’s economy and infrastructure is getting worse
Despite terrorist attacks and sabotage Iraq’s economy has grown much faster than post war Germany and Japan.
1) The Iraqi unemployment rate is at 25-40%. That’s down from 50-60% back in 2003.
2) The electricity production level is 15% above pre war levels and the goal set by the US for average electricity generated has been reached years ago.
3) 8,997,000 more people have phone service than before the war.
4) Before the war there were no commercial TV stations, no commercial radio stations, and no independent news papers or magazines. Now there are 54 commercial TV stations 114 commercial radio stations and, 268 independent newspapers and magazines.
5) There are 5.7% more children in elementary school since pre war levels and there is an 27% increase of children in middle/high schools since before the war.
6) People with access to potable water before the war was 12.9 million but now 9.7 million with an 4.2 million increase since the war started. 6.2 million people had sewage before the war as opposed to the 5.6 million that have it now. However the CPA’s goal was 2.5 million.
7) Iraq has managed to make 21 billion dollars in Oil revenues despite the insurgent sabotages and the number will only rise each year.
8) Iraq’s GDP has more than doubled its growth since prewar levels making Iraq the fastest growing economy in the world.
9) Crime/Violence in Iraq has dropped 70-80%.
10) As of 11/07 Iraqis who formerly fled to avoid violence are returning at a rate of over 1000 per day, attracted by the reduction of violence and increasing job market.
Iraq Electricity Production at All-time High
Iraq Electricity Production at Alltime High
Brookings institute Iraq Study
http://www3.brookings.edu/fp/saban/iraq/index.pdf
Washington Institute
http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/p...icyFocus50.pdf
CIA Iraq
https://www.cia.gov/library/publicat...k/geos/iz.html
Deaths in Iraq 'continue to fall'
BBC NEWS | Middle East | Deaths in Iraq 'continue to fall'
Iraqi civilian death toll plunges
Iraqi civilian death toll plunges
Iraqis return home
BBC NEWS | Middle East | Iraqis return home 'in thousands'