Freedom in Iraq

Three murdered for having the sheer audacity to wear shorts.

Compare that annecdote to this figure from the Brooking Institution Iraq Index.



NOTE ON INDEX OF POLITICAL FREEDOM TABLE: Each country is scored on a 10-point scale, with 1 being the lowest score and10 the highest. Indicators of freedom include election of head of government, election of parliament, fairness of electoral laws, right to organize political parties, power of elected representatives, presence of an opposition, transparency, minority participation, level of corruption, freedom of assembly, independence of the judiciary, press freedom, religious freedom, rule of law and property rights.

I don't want to scorn Brooking's efforts. I think what they do is important. To me, it's critical to analyze issues and not to write them off as "complex" or "hard work". It's important to strive for understanding and the Brooking Institution does the best job I've seen of assembling the relevant data and variables.

However, I offer this criticism. When people are executed for wearing shorts, it's time to reevaluate your political freedom rankings.

(note: Syria and Libya ranked lower than the Saudis, but didn't fit the photo)