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and don't forget those palaces....they arfe going to be owned by Hilton and Marriott and others and you and I are going to pay money to sleep in them

Iraq can become the economic giant among the Arab world provided she embraces true freedom and capitalism. To the extent the Islamists win, Iraq will be just another backard Arab nation after the rebirth.

I predict Babylon will be an economic powerhouse soon.

Pay attention to some things here:

(Rev 18:1 KJV) And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

(Rev 18:2 KJV) And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

(Rev 18:3 KJV) For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

(Rev 18:4 KJV) And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

(Rev 18:5 KJV) For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

(Rev 18:6 KJV) Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

(Rev 18:7 KJV) How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

(Rev 18:8 KJV) Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

(Rev 18:9 KJV) And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,

(Rev 18:10 KJV) Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

(Rev 18:11 KJV) And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

(Rev 18:12 KJV) The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,

(Rev 18:13 KJV) And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

(Rev 18:14 KJV) And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.

Babylon will be rebuilt, and in this passage, it is spoken of as a major commercial center. While there are references to a religious system in the previous chapter, this is the literal city of Babylon here.

Watch this space, for after this time of war in Iraq and the Middle East is over, there will be a rebuilding of Iraq/Babylon like we have never seen!!

(Rev 18:15 KJV) The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

(Rev 18:16 KJV) And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!

(Rev 18:17 KJV) For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,

(Rev 18:18 KJV) And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!

(Rev 18:19 KJV) And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

(Rev 18:20 KJV) Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.

(Rev 18:21 KJV) And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.

(Rev 18:22 KJV) And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;

(Rev 18:23 KJV) And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

(Rev 18:24 KJV) And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

some Gulf analysts fear a rebuilt Iraq will be a powerhouse that could squeeze the region's other economies over the long term.

Talk about your outdated economics!!

The economy of a region of the world is not like a pie, where a bigger piece by one country reduces the size of the others!

Even JFK in 1964 understood that economically, a rising tide lifts all boats.

Or do I miss something?

some Gulf analysts fear a rebuilt Iraq will be a powerhouse that could squeeze the region's other economies over the long term.

This is typical socialist thinking. Marxists always seem to think that economics is a zero-sum game, and if one guy wins the others will lose. But the U.S. has long since proven that prosperity is contagious, and if one guy wins his neighbors will probably do better too.

This is assuming that the other Arab countries start to reform. If they don't, then they will only be screwing themselves--as usual.

>I am hopeful that a strong Iraqi economy will mean an educated electorate.
> This might forestall the onset of an "Islamic Republic" dominated by hostile Ayatollahs.

>Here's a prediction though: the Iraqi Republic to come will be plagued at first by assasinations and civil war.

Please let it be so - bury Saudi Arabia!