President George W. Bush has described today's Iraq as a "young democracy." He even boasted at one point that the advance of democratic institutions in Iraq is "setting an example" that others in the area would be "wise to follow." But when it comes to one of the most basic tenets of democracy - freedom of speech and the press - Iraq is not setting an example that even the youngest of democracies would be wise to follow.

New laws in Iraq criminalize speech that ridicules the government or its officials, and any journalist who "publicly insults" the government or public officials can be subject to up to seven years in prison.