Iraq the second most unstable country in the world

After finishing in fourth place last year, Iraq vaulted itself two spots as the second most vulnerable country to internal attacks:

In the third annual"failed state" index, analysts for Foreign Policy magazine and thenot-for-profit Fund for Peace said that Iraq and Afghanistan, whichranked eighth, show that billions of dollars in development andsecurity aid may be futile without a functioning government,trustworthy leaders and realistic plans to keep the peace and developthe economy.

Preventing Iraq frombecoming a failed state is a key part of the Bush administration’sargument for keeping U.S. troops in the country. The administrationsays the troops are needed to keep Iraq from becoming a breeding groundfor international terrorists.

Sudan finished as the number one most unstable country -- no surprise there.  According to an intelligence analyst, the US is reluctant to coerce the Sudanese government into stopping the genocide because Sudan provides the CIA with crucial intelligence on insurgents in Iraq.

Without further adieu, here's a list of the top-20 most failed states, according to Foreign Policy online magazine.  (Notice that half of the top-10 are oil-producing states.):

1. Sudan (oil)
2. Iraq (oil)
3. Somalia
4. Zimbabwe
5. Chad (oil)
6. Ivory Coast
7. Democratic Republic of the Congo (oil)
8. Afghanistan
9. Guinea (oil)
10. Central African Republic
11. Haiti
12. Pakistan
13. North Korea
14. Burma
15. Uganda
16. Bangladesh
17. Nigeria (oil)
18. Ethiopia
19. Burundi
20. Timor-Leste (oil)

Here is the full report.  It's a very good read.