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06/27/2005:

"Amid the Turmoil, Iraqis Who Seek Historical Perspective, Skills and Solace Turn to Books"

...Mr. Jazaery said he worried about the power of religion among young Iraqis. Anyone who was born after 1980 grew up during Iraq's decline into war and economic sanctions. Corruption and poverty have eroded the once-strong educational system, leaving young people vulnerable to populist leaders like Mr. Sadr.

"They can read, they can write, but they can't understand," Mr. Jazaery said. "That's good for dictatorship and dangerous for democracy. It's a spare army for all hard-line elements."
Full: nytimes.com

Yeah well what's our excuse for the erosion of our educational system, where the worst victims of disastrous policies are not sufficiently educated to either see through the smokescreen and whitewash or articulate their opposition?