So many of the major industries are govt controlled in Iraq, it’s the service industries that are booming. The various ministries cannot open a concrete plant but they don’t care about auto repair shops or KFC’s.

And, remember that in Jan of this year 9 million pilgrims came to Karbala and Babil in one week. Lots of opportunity there for food and lodging.

An American general told me he interviewed an Iranian family coming over for the festival. Why come? “I heard it was safe” said the dad.