In fact, the areas were devastated by the war, the infrastructure largely destroyed, suffering high crime rates and looting by gangs.

Already a U.N. report concludes that Iraq has been bombed back to the "pre-industrial age," its infrastructure destroyed, its people beset by famine and disease.

"The country is flat on its back, with its infrastructure destroyed, and we want to go in there and charge them for liberating their country?"

The infrastructure for constructing these weapons of mass destruction had been severely damaged, but not destroyed, by the Allied bombing campaigns during what they called the Gulf War.

"You have to remember that in 1991 we were like Iraq today, our infrastructure destroyed, no hospitals, no schools," Sheika Hussah said.

The impact has been long-lasting, with entire families and villages wiped out and vital infrastructure destroyed.

After having it's infrastructure completely destroyed and a large percentage of its young male population killed.

Afghanistan in 2002 was effectively at 'Year Zero', its people traumatised and the infrastructure of the state destroyed.

Dysfunctional institutions, destroyed infrastructure, no laws.

And yet Serbia is a pariah, embargoed, its infrastructure largely destroyed, its economy shattered.