The Land of Opportunity

I just got back from attending a conference for the contracting officers in country. While there, I had the opportunity to hear an Iraqi businessman (who has multiple contracts with the military) speak about his experiences dealing with the US. He painted a great picture about the future of his country that I don’t know is being projected by our media back home. Being the son of a self employed businessman, I took to heart what this man said and knew that the future of this country will depend heavily on entrepreneurs like him. I jotted down some of his quotes during the “question and answer” period.


Are the Iraqi people really ready for democracy?
“Iraqi people have now tasted freedom, they have now tasted democracy, and that is a hard taste to take away from them.”

Doesn’t the insurgency show that most Iraqis want us out of Iraq?
“Only 1% of the people want the US Army to leave. They want you to leave so that they can re-occupy the palaces and keep the other 99% of the population out. If the US Army were to leave today, then we really would have a civil war starting tomorrow.”

What do you tell other Iraqis who say that they want the US to leave?
“Why would we want the US out of our country? Japan, Germany, Korea, Italy, and so on all have the US in their country and they are all living good lives. Why wouldn’t you want the biggest kid in school to be your friend so that the bullies won’t bother you?”

What about the high unemployment rates we hear about in Iraq?
“High unemployment rates in Iraq may be due to the perception within our population that if you are employed and have money than Saddam’s government could come and take that money away from you, therefore, you will see Iraqis stepping out of limos wearing nice suits and when asked they will tell you that they are unemployed and poor.”

Finally…
“Iraq is the new land of opportunity. I now own part of a bank, a hotel, an insurance company…..”(the list went on and on)

GO CAPITALISM!!!