Iraq has so many historical places to see, plus with it’s oil that it could be an awesome country to see “one day.” South of Babylon is the Temple or Ur, the birth place of Abraham and it’s actually in good shape because the US army persevered it while there but that still didn’t stop insurgents from stashing explosives there on a regular bases. Also the world’s largest Mosque is in Baghdad but isn’t finished because of the problems.

The whole country has problems and what wasn’t widely know was that 2 of the people who were hiking in the North knew Arabic. Wasn’t some farm boys from Missouri out doing an extreme hike or something. If it had been I would have given them 2 days before Jihad sent them to Mecca.

The Iraqi people are sitting on a gold mine of tourism possibilities but they are still more worried about fighting with each other and the infidels to realize this. It’s a shame because the common Iraqi could really use the chance to a business with this but because of history, religious beliefs and political self motivations it’ll never happen in my life time. What a shame to but no one in their right mind wants to go to a country where your safety isn’t guaranteed even 5%, as dyeing isn’t that bad if your doing something you love…but having your head sawed off and your family watching it on the internet is a whole another story.

But Iraq?

Sign me up!
Matador Party in Baghdad 2010?!

Thanks for this thoughtful, well-researched article. You managed to tackle lots of different issues in a concise, meaningful way.