We're No. 2!

In a new ranking of "failed states," only Sudan outscores Iraq.

Published June 18, 2007 12:59PM (EDT)

For the past three years, Foreign Policy and the Fund for Peace have ranked 177 states in order of their "vulnerability to violent and internal conflict and societal deterioration." The new "Failed States Index" is out, and Sudan takes home first prize. Coming in second: Iraq.

"Despite billions of dollars in development and security aid and the continued presence of U.S. troops, Iraq's position in the Failed States Index dropped for a third consecutive year, leaving it ranked as the second most vulnerable country in the world," Foreign Policy and the Fund for Peace explain in a press release. "Its score diminished in nearly all of the index's 12 social, economic, political, and military indicators this year, suggesting a broad scope of deterioration in the country."

On "Meet the Press" Sunday, U.S. ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker said the situation in Iraq now is "a mixed picture" but "not by any means a hopeless one."


By Tim Grieve

Tim Grieve is a senior writer and the author of Salon's War Room blog.

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