Yes, second place feels like losing

Iraq is now the second worst failed state in the world, according to the recently released Fund for Peace study. The BBC has some of the details:

Iraq ranks as the world's second most unstable country, according to an annual index of failed states.

The report - compiled by the US Foreign Policy magazine and the US-based Fund for Peace think-tank - ranks nations according to their vulnerability.

Judged according to 12 criteria, including internal conflict and society breakdown, states range from the most failed, Sudan, to the least, Norway.

As I've written previously, it is much easier to create a failed state that to rescue one.

Afghanistan is #8 on the list.


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