The very model of a modern progressive democracy

From here:

Every day it seemed more Iraqis woke up to death threats tossed into their carports. At first the death threats were handwritten, but as kidnappings became a daily occurrence, the kidnappers grew more brazen and organized. The terrorists now issue generic, computerized threats with the organization's name as letterhead. Only the name of the victim is written by hand.

"To the traitors cooperating with Americans," began one typed death threat received in 2005 by a young architect employed by an American contractor working in the Green Zone. "If you don't repent, the Mujahideen will punish you and behead you."
I don't know. I'm trying to think. Is this what life in Iraq was like, before we invaded, deposed Saddam Hussein, and transformed that poor downtrodden country into a miracle of modern democracy?

I'm also trying to think -- if this recurring conservative meme about violence in Iraq being no worse, or, at worse, only slightly worse, than violence in many American cities, is true, then... um... gee... I'm very happy I live in one of the few large American cities where crazy ass religious posses don't throw neatly typed up death threats against me and my entire family onto my front porch every day, which they would then carry out, if I didn't immediately quit my job.

I mean, whew. Close call, there.

Hat tip to This Modern World.