Obviously, when in 2003 the WSJ is referring to would play a major role in this. If it refers to the period before the invasion, probably all the high-ranking officials in Saddam's regime would have been Baathists--and all removed after his fall. I deduce therefore that the reference would be comparing late 2003 to now.

But fear is definitely precipitating a huge brain drain in Iraq-- a bloodletting of talent, in addition to the literal bloodletting-- which shows no signs of abating.