The tragedy in Iraq

It's really hard to imagine how bad life must be in Iraq if you're lucky enough to be alive:

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The United Nations said Wednesday that 3,709 Iraqi civilians were killed in October, the highest monthly toll since the March 2003 U.S. invasion and another sign of the severity of Iraq's sectarian bloodbath.

I'd be interested to see the results of a poll asking Iraqis whether they prefer Iraq as it is today or as it was under Saddam. I have a feeling Saddam would win.

With what's happened to date, it's utterly incomprehensible how anyone can think we will come out of this with a liberal democracy in Iraq that sides with the West.