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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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New Zealand Rated Most Peaceful; US 83rd

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(Newser) – The Institute for Economics and Peace has released its annual list of the world’s most peaceful countries, Bloomberg reports. The index is based on things like "international security" and "tolerant solidarity." New Zealand is No. 1; the US is No. 83. A sampling:

  1. New Zealand: A new government and little strife make the island's 4.2 million people the most peaceful in the world.
  2. Denmark. Norway is No. 3, and Iceland fell from the top spot to No. 4 due to the banking collapse and subsequent public protests.

  • No. 83: United States: Not great, but better than last year after the IEP determined that the country is less likely to be attacked by terrorists.
  • No. 136: Russia has the second-highest prison population after the US, and the invasion of Georgia certainly didn't help.
  • No. 143: Afghanistan: The IEP takes current wars into account when calculating the index.
  • No. 144 (Last): Iraq: Ditto.

A Russian soldier removes sand bags at a checkpoint near the Georgian village of Karaleti.
A Russian soldier removes sand bags at a checkpoint near the Georgian village of Karaleti.   (AP Photo)
A stone chapel is shown on the edge of Lake Tekapo under the sparkling sky on New Zealand's South Island.
A stone chapel is shown on the edge of Lake Tekapo under the sparkling sky on New Zealand's South Island.   (AP Photo)
The ruins of a coordinated suicide attack in the town of Qahataniya, Iraq.
The ruins of a coordinated suicide attack in the town of Qahataniya, Iraq.   (AP Photo)
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4 comments
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John_Galt
Jun 3, 09 1:58 PM CDT
Beautiful country, healthy lifestyle, fewer looters and moochers. Reply
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TerrifiedCitizen
Jun 3, 09 2:39 PM CDT
I wonder what rating Iraq had before WMD's were confirmed by every 'professional' in our government? Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
plstyle
Jun 3, 09 3:00 PM CDT
Why would you care, it doesn't sound like you ever leave your house? Saddam did some crazy things to alot of his people, and although no one ever found any WMD's the Bush Administration made Iraq a better place, it was just, and continues to be, very expensive to the US
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IN RESPONSE:
radnip
Jun 5, 09 4:04 AM CDT
So let's be consistent and equal opportunity and make North Korea a better place as well.
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