As to whether the Iraquis are better off...that would depend on each individual Iraqui to provide an answer.

The Shiites are potentially better off in a general sense, depending on a number of variable factors...they may now get to run the country.

The Sunnis are worse off.

The Kurds may be better off...and they may not. We'll see. I doubt that the Shiites will be generous to the Kurds.

The people who got killed and severely injured are worse off.

The people who lost property and jobs are worse off.

The Iraqui national museum staff is worse off.

The hospitals and medical staff are worse off.

The infrastructure is worse off.

The average citizen, for the time being, is worse off...since there is a great deal of chaos, looting, breakdown of law and order, etc...

Wars usually have that effect on people.

It is a bit naive, I think, to even ask the question "Are the Iraquis better off without Saddam?"...but people will scramble around trying to justify aggression, so such questions will be asked.

This war was not fought to better the conditions of Iraquis, it was fought for much larger geopolitical concerns.

- LH