UPDATE: Here come the naysayers. Would anything less be expected from Reuters?

"I want to behead Saddam Hussein for what he did. He killed four members of my family," said Akeel Kathim, another driver. "Despite that I hope he comes back because only he can end the security crisis."

The roads were safe under Saddam because criminals faced severe sentences such as long prison terms, or the severing of hands for illegal money dealing. During the chaos of occupation, armed gangs preyed on motorists. Now al-Quds's 25 drivers can only wait to see if Allawi delivers.

"I used to take jobs at two in the morning. Now I shut down at six because it is too dangerous to drive at night," Bashar said. "The future is uncertain now. I hope I we can work at night again soon."

So, Saddam may have killed most of his family, but at least it was safe to drive at night. So much for progress.