Iraq assessment

According to Richard Beeston, Diplomatic Correspondent of The Times:

On your most recent visit, how had Iraq changed?

Much of it is depressingly familiar. With a few exceptions the reconstruction effort has ground to a halt. There is very limited electricity, long petrol queues, rampant crime. It is still very dangerous for Westerners to move around certain parts of the city because of the threat of kidnapping.

But the Iraqis are very resilient. Much of life goes on. The economy does function, after a fashion. Children go to school. The universities are open. Baghdad airport now boasts dozens of flights a day both domestic and international. Everyone seems to have a mobile phone and satellite television. If you want to stir a debate in Iraq, ask people if they would prefer that Saddam had stayed in power, with the likelihood of his son taking over, or if despite all the bloodshed and chaos the country is better off without him.

Some people do want him back and there have been a couple of pro-Saddam demonstrations. But most Shias and Kurds and even some Sunnis when pressed will admit that at least Iraq has a chance one day of pulling itself out of this mess and that maybe life will be better if not for them, then for their children.

Update: Also read this and this for more first-hand views of how things are going from U.S. soldiers. (via instapundit)