Historical Background

http://6thfloor.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/16/bahrain-the-widening-gulf/

To understand MENA, one must understand the nature of Islam.  Two main sects of Islam exist currently, Sunni and Shia. The majority of the world follows Sunni Islam EXCEPT the region around Iran and bits of the Mediterranean Sea coast.  Sunni and Shia Muslims have different beliefs regarding the selection of religious leaders;  Iraq however, is a very special case since the country is divided between 60-65% Shiaa, 32-37% Sunni and also large numbers of Christians and other followers.

Olive Tree: Mesopotamian heritage. Multicultural nation, although Saddam era had Sunni ruling.

Regarding diversity, Iraq actually ranks ahead of many other MENA countries in providing a multicultural environment. After all, Iraq is the birthplace to one of the earliest civilizations, Mesopotamia. In the evening, locals and travelers alike flood the crowded market streets to shop their favorite grub.

http://www.theiraqpavilion.com/markets-in-erbil/

Erbil's marketplace, like all the other marketplaces in Iraq, excellently demonstrates the nation's rich diversity. Even in the air, the smell of different spices and cuisines intermix to form an individualistic, yet unified sensory, much like the nation Iraq itself. 

With a variety like this, you'll never leave the market with an empty belly.

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/picture-taken-on-june-28-2014-shows-food-grains-and-spices-news-photo/451368066

Some important dates in recent Iraqi history:

1948: Iraq and other Arab countries launch an unsuccessful war against Israel, which had declared statehood that year.

1958: A military coup overthrows the monarchy, kills King Faisal II, and declares Iraq a republic. General Abdul Karim Kassem becomes Iraq's leader, and begins reversing the monarchy's pro-western policies (July 14).

1963: Kassem is killed in a coup led Colonel Abd al-Salam Aref and the military as well as members of the Ba'ath party (Feb. 8). TheBa'ath party, founded in Syria, advocates pan-Arabism, secularism, and socialism. Colonel Aref becomes president, Ahmed Hasan al-Bakr of the Ba'ath Party becomes president.

1973: Iraq fights in the Arab-Israeli War (The Yom Kippur War) and participates in the oil boycott against Israel's supporters. Creation of OPEC

1980: Iran-Iraq War over territory and religious concerns (Shia Uprising)

1990-1991: Iraq invades Kuwait, beat down by America. 

1996: UN allows Iraq to export "oil for food". Humanitarian effort.

Summary: Continuous unrest and foreign/domestic conflicts due to religious/economic/political differences. Lack of understanding; Iraqi diplomats need to travel as a political act.

Source: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/iraqtimeline1.html