Several points:
1. Iranian regime is despotic & deserves sever punishment for its terrorist activities. Who’s gonna do that?
2. Iraq has a non-hostile gov’t. Well done to all those who participated, and spent zillions of $$ & thousands of lives to liberate Iraq.
3. Iraq, as a country, is still not safe. Even American soldiers have been killed there in recent yrs. Many Iraqis choose to flee Iraq to western countries, illegally too, and even now. Why?
4. Iraqi Kurdistan may be the most officially pro American region in Iraq. But, is under Iranian influence & attack.
5. American passport is not a guarantee to freedom in many places in the ME, North Africa, or South East Asia. In fact it can be a hazard. A Woody Allen movie long ago where he was said something like “you can’t arrest me, I’m an American citizen”, no longer applies.
6. American or non-Iraqi nationals should not be encouraged to, nor go visiting or hiking in Iraq or bordering towns between Iran & Iraq, unless it is absolutely required.
7. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.
8. The above is no joke. It is deadly serious.
I have a friend who works in Iraq. He’s a civilian but doesn’t go anywhere without an armed team to protect him.