Why are most Iraqis really poor and the homes look like dirt huts

dahunan

Lifer
Jan 10, 2002
18,191
3
0
I am not being racist when I ask this.. it is just odd that a country with so much oil wealth could look so ancient and undeveloped.


Sh!t, they look like they are stuck in the stone age or something
 

mastertech01

Moderator Emeritus Elite Member
Nov 13, 1999
11,875
282
126
As in any dictatorship, the rich get richer and the poor never had and never will. If they complain they are simply murdered or imprisoned by the rich dictator.
 

andreasl

Senior member
Aug 25, 2000
419
0
0
Because of 10+ years of UN trade sanctions because Saddamn wouldn't comply to UN resolutions. Before the Iran-Iraq war started in the early 80'ies, Iraq was actually quite prosperous, though not by western standards but by regional standards.
 

dahunan

Lifer
Jan 10, 2002
18,191
3
0
Originally posted by: andreasl
Because of 10+ years of UN trade sanctions because Saddamn wouldn't comply to UN resolutions. Before the Iran-Iraq war started in the early 80'ies, Iraq was actually quite prosperous, though not by western standards but by regional standards.

POTD?

FIFTY POSTWAR (during UN sanctions) PALACES HAVE BEEN BUILT SO DON'T BLAME UN SANCTIONS ... whenever anyone claims UN sanctions caused all the suffering in Iraq I cannot stop myself form seeing them as Saddam sympathizers
 

Mday

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
18,646
1
76
the ruling party benefits from the oil while the other parties within the nation do not. those countries are generally composed of tribes of muslims. the ruling party is the tribe which has the most power. and some of these tribes are not exactly friendly with each other. this is the cause of many civil wars within a country, and explains the situation with respect to genocide in iraq. this genocide is not limited to iraq or countries in the middle east or muslim nations.

so in such countries, the rich truly do get richer, the poor get poorer. there is no "socialism" there to spread the wealth.
 

KenGr

Senior member
Aug 22, 2002
725
0
0
Anyone else continue to be puzzled by why the socialist and communistic organizations that back International ANSWER, Not in Our Name, etc. are so dedicated to supporting these dictatorships that seem to be the antitheses of socialism?

Is it possible they fear that capitalism will take hold if they fall and deprive them of an opportunity for socialist revolution. (However bloody and destructive, I suppose they would be able to justify that conflict.)