Some signs of progress in Iraq? Of course, the picture that’s described in this report is messy, and not all of it’s good, but, after all the gloom, it’s difficult not to be a little encouraged to read this:

“Money-changers sit under parasols in the main square listening to Western rock music. Beside them street vendors try to undercut each other on the price of brand-name whisky. It all would have meant jail in Saddam’s day.

As he builds a wall of Australian lager cans on the pavement, one trader admits that people cannot believe what they are getting away with, as long as the goods are not stolen. No one needs a licence.

In “Electric Alley”, there is barely room to move between the satellite dishes on display. Among those long restricted to watching state-run Iraqi television, Baywatch is popular.”

And, yes, some of the posters are on sale are of that monstrous savage, the ‘ayatollah’ Khomeini, but if the choice is between the old Shi-ite or Shauni, the good guys are in with a chance.