Future Outlooks and Conclusion

Iraq's Treasure Chest: Oil

Aside from the ISIL/ISIS issue...

Lexus: OPEC, petroleum industry - world's 12th largest oil producer in 2009 and has the world's 5th largest proven oil reserves.

http://www.eia.gov/cfapps/ipdbproject/IEDIndex3.cfm?tid=5&pid=57&aid=6

What do almost every single MENA country on this list have in common? None of them have an excellent relationship with the U.S (other than maybe Kuwait). This day and age, when the whole world is so dependent upon each other for economy and resources, foreign policy failures hurt not only America's image, but also Americans' wallets. 

Conclusion:

"We have no permanent allies, 

we have no permanent enemies, 

we only have permanent interests".

                              - Henry Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston

Examples: 1980 Iran-Iraq War. (U.S Supported Iraq)

                  1990 Gulf War (U.S fought Iraq)

                  1979-1989 Soviet-Afghan War (U.S supported Taliban)

                  Gaffafi of Egypt (Installed by U.S. in 1969, removed in 2011)

Postive example: Great Britain, US relationship. From Revolutionary War to Strong Allies.

Set aside olive trees, Lexus, politics and build real, meaningful, multinational relationships. There are so much room for relationship building; so much room for young travelers to politically advance relations in Iraq and the rest of the Middle East.

                  

BRIGHT BRIGHT FUTURES FOR IRAQ.