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Five years after the start of the Iraq War, the people of Iraq are beginning to feel optimistic again. According to a poll conducted by the German network ARD, the BBC and other broadcasters, more than 50 % of Iraqis rate their life as good – even though there are still economic problems, for instance in terms of employment or the provision of water and electric power. However, sentiment is broadly divided along ethnic and religious lines. The mood of the Kurds is the most buoyant, that of the Sunnis the most depressed.
A little less than half of Iraqis reckon the US invasion in 2003 was right. The Kurds and Shi'ites welcomed it most. Nonetheless, the presence of US troops is not welcome. 73 % of respondents – all Sunnis but also the majority of Shi'ites – are opposed to it.

An early withdrawal of US forces from Iraq is unlikely at present, even though the war is costing the US dear. More than 4,000 American soldiers have been killed in Iraq in the past five years. Many thousands have been injured, some of them badly. On top of that, the financial burden is massive. According to Joe Stiglitz, the economist, the costs of war to the USA may amount to $ 3 trillion. Budget experts in the US Congress say the mission currently costs more than $ 400 million a day. (sz)

The Federal Audit Court wants more control to be exercised over budget support granted by Germany’s Development Ministry (BMZ). In an official report, the auditors point to the growing risk of funds being abused or mismanaged by partner governments whose budgets are supported by donor transfers. The Court also criticised German practices in deciding on budget support. Whether a partner government gets money or not depends on how the BMZ assesses its likely reform performance in future. That approach, the auditors argue, has undermined the supervisory powers of the Bundestag, Germany’s Federal Parliament. On the other hand, the Federal Audit Court does not question that budged support makes sense in principle.
Erich Stather, state secretary at the BMZ, welcomed the report, considering an endorsement of the ministry’s strategic decision to use this instrument. Oxfam Germany, a subsidiary of the international charity, similarly voiced support for budget support, stating that it permitted the realisation of programmes with high follow-up costs, for instance, in sectors such as health and education. Criticism, however, was expressed by members of the Bundestag’s Budget Committee. Jürgen Koppelin of the right-of-centre FDP, for example, found fault in the failure to monitor closely the use of taxpayers’ money.

Budget support was introduced as a policy instrument in Germany in 2001. According to the Federal Audit Court, its volume is of around € 400 million. In OECD efforts to harmonise donor activities, joint budget support from governments of rich nations to certain developing countries plays a major role. (sz/dem)

This is how exiled monks in India expressed their resentment of the Chinese regime. All over the world people protested against violent military measures against demonstrators in Tibet, and some demanded a boycott of the Olympic games in Beijing in summer. In Tibet, rallies began on 10 March, the anniversary of a failed insurrection against Chinese occupation in 1959. In a week of clashes, 15 people were killed according to Beijing officials. The Tibetan government in exile spoke of around 100 dead. Wen Jiabao, the prime minister of China, accused the Dalai Lama, Tibetans’ spiritual leader, of having caused the protests. Before D+C went to print ahead of the holiday break, the Dalai Lama called for non-violent action, and threatened to resign from his post as worldly leader of the government in exile, should Tibetans not adhere to that demand. (sz)