That is a question that Oxfam International’s report about Iraq helped answer. They had not issued a report on the conditions in Iraq since early 2003 because of the invasion and the fighting. This group is not political but examines the real conditions that face the Iraqi People.
Under Saddam you could be killed just for disagreeing with him. Today you can be killed just by going out of you house to do the most basic function of living. The overall security situation today compared with 2003 is much worse in most areas and the number of people being killed is higher then under Saddam. Saddam was ruthless and he has been replaces with death squads and militia that are as brutal or worse then Saddam. For the average Iraqi, the dangers are worse then in 2003 and the most basic functions subject then to injury or death.
The 2007 report says that 15% of Iraqis can not regularly afford to eat and 70% are without adequate water. That is double the rate in 2003. The study showed that 28% of the children are malnourished compared with 19% in 2003. The most basic services are far worse then in 2003 and that is after 4 ½ years of rebuilding and $44 Billion dollars from the United States.
The report said there are 2 Million internally displaced people most of which are women and children. Another 2 Million have fled the country for fear of being killed and live in Syria and Jordan. There was no comparable situation in 2003.
The people of Iraq no longer have the despot Saddam but what has taken his place has made the life for the average Iraqi even worse. The government is inept and is not doing a thing to end the violence and can not provide for the most basic needs in Iraq. The amount of water, electricity and oil production are all below the pre invasion levels despite 4 ½ years of so called rebuilding. Saddam stole the oil money to build his palaces and today corruption in Iraq by Iraqis has made Saddam look like a piker.
Are the Iraqi People better off in 2007 then in 2003-Not from the results of the Oxfam study!