The same report but different spin. The Times Online have an article by Richard Beeston in Baghdad headed Iraqis soldier on without power, water, jobs, sewers

“This survey…. for the UN Development Programme…released by the Ministry of Planning….shows a rather tragic situation of the quality of life in Iraq,” Planning Minister Barham Salih said. “These statistics reflect the contrast between the wealth of this country and the deteriorating level of all vital sectors.”

The report said that unemployment was now more than 18 per cent, compared with just over 3 per cent in the 1980s.

Meanwhile, in the Courier Mail, Omar Anwar, reporting from Baghdad quotes a survey, conducted by the Iraqi Ministry of Planning and the United Nations Development Program….

Unemployment is running at 50 per cent, the survey found, raising questions over whether a growing number of young Iraqi men will join the rebels.

His article is headed “Despite its wealth, Iraq falls apart” Over at CNN, a report quoting the same joint survey from the Iraqi government and United Nations, take a more positive view;

While there has been progress since Saddam Hussein’s fall, “these data depict a very tragic picture of the quality of life,” Iraqi transitional Planning Minister Barham Salih said.

and have a different take on the stats,

Iraq’s unemployment rate was 10.5 percent of a population of 27 million people, the report found. When the figure of workers who had given up looking for a job — discouraged workers — was included, the unemployment number increased to 18.4 percent.

I think the only thing we can be sure of is Iraq has an unemployment problem, the magnitude of which varies with the journalist’s or Editor’s politics. The Left will be devastated to read that the much quoted Lancet report that totaled 100,000 dead as a result of the war has been downsized to less than 30,000 by the UN report. This won’t stop them quoting the 100,000 figure though. Ten bucks says it’ll be used in some letter to the Editor next week. 30,000 dead is still a bad number but not if the vast majority were terrorists supporting Saddam during the early stages of the war or fighting against democracy in more recent times. The CNN take on the deaths says 12% were under 18 but perception between East and West is very stark when considering the ages of man. The mothers in downtown Sydney, London or New York will think …Oh my God..they’re just children. In Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Palestine and Syria mothers will still be weeping over their lost children but the photos they cry over will, more often than not, show their young son with an AK47 in his hands. From the Eastern extremities of Afhanistan to a line drawn through Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe there are literally millions of sub 18 year old armed men in uniform fighting and dying for what their Mullahs believe in. That is the nature of the beast.

Went on over to Deltoid and underwent a political compass assessment. Surprised myself. I thought my compass needle would have swung more to the right than it did. The result will surprise others as well. Maybe I’m just feeling a little bit soft this morning….only two mugs of coffee too date. I need a fix to get me back on the attack mode.

The US has created a special visa for Australians to work in the US. Until now Aussies have had to compete for a 65,000 visa issue worldwide – now we have our own bucket of 10,500 visas to dip into.

Some 10,500 E3 visas will be issued annually to Australians with tertiary qualifications who have job offers from American employers, including universities, government departments and businesses. There is no age limit.

The bill found no opposition in the Senate.

There was no debate on the provision, which was passed unanimously by the Senate, but it is believed that there was widespread support for the new visas, given Australia’s close relationship with the US.

Another flow-on from the Free Trade Agreement and rightly supporting the US in it’s fight against terrorism. It’s funny, but I notice the Left have stopped carping about how the agreement was going to be the ruin of Australia’s industry.

Trade Minister Mark Vaile hailed the new visa as “a significant breakthrough” that would allow Australian business to capitalise on the opportunities created by the free-trade agreement with the US.

Bloody Howard, just keeps on winning. Wonder if the Kiwis got any extra visas?

There is a risk inherant in opposing for opposings sake. Kim and his team of wonders has decided to block all tax cuts in the Senate. Howard and Costello can’t believe their good luck and can’t wait to get the budget to the Senate so Kim can knock it back. The move should get extra votes for the ALP from…mmm….can’t think of any group actually.

Labor has blundered strategically and tactically and many of its members know it. The decision of Kim Beazley’s leadership team to oppose all the tax cuts and the abolition of the superannuation surcharge has suddenly made Labor the issue.

It’s raining in Brisbane but there is always some sunshine creeping through.