Here's my take on it:

Iraq is a financial mess. The oil is their primary commodity (aka wealth) and the Baathists keep disrupting production, attacking pipelines, etc. The end of the fixed price schemes has outraged a number of folks who lived under the socialist Saddam economic system. If you live all your life without competition - when suddenly competition arrives you are totally unable to adapt without a little expertise.

Where are the best policed areas in the world? Are they in war zones? Are they in bad neighborhoods?

No.

The best policed areas in the world have wealth - lots of it. The residents of Beverly Hills, La Jolla, the Suburbs of Silicon Valley or similar areas can count on an immediate police presence, total xenophobia and no tolerance for anything that lowers property values.

In corporate zones - lots of this police presence is in the form of corporate security, which works hand in glove with the real police.

By introducing foreign investments you likewise introduce that whic accompanies corporate investment - corporate security.

But what this REALLY is - is a peace offering to France and Germany who are dying to get a piece of the Iraqi reconstruction contracts and establish a strong presence for generating revenues. Watch as France and Germany, the ultimate self-servers, cooperate suddenly with the UN and with the US.

It's a glorified EU bribe. And it will probably work. To achieve the golden triangle of middle east wealth requires far more foreign firms get involved. This is also known to expedite the acceptance of westernized values as the benefits of higher paid employment for the Iraq populace become appreciated. The Soviet Union was doomed after the first McDonald's opened in Moscow. Capitalism is superior. Let it get a foothold and the former socialist tyranny will be quickly abandoned by the masses. Only the privileged class (as in the USSR) fight the reforms and freedom of the capitalist system.

The end result will be an influx of high powered companies bringing order and increased security.

Money has that effect.

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