The BBC reported last week that the United States ranks 96th, out of 121 countries, on the Global Peace Index, a list determining the peacefulness of each country (121 being the least peaceful). Compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit, a research and advisory firm spawned originally to serve the magazine, the index ranks countries on, among other factors, prison population, violent crime, and relations with one’s neighbors. Iraq, due to the ongoing war (one of the reasons for the U.S.’ poor ranking as well, I’ll assume), ranks dead last, at 121. Norway, not surprisingly, ranks at the top. Other notables: Japan ranks fifth (although, that seems sort of skewed, due to its military constraints), Sudan sits at 120 and Israel at 119.