A green Iraq - perspectives from the air

Last week, during my trip, I traveled via UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter in a couple of flights through the area north of Baghdad up to about 50 miles out. I had an awesome seat each time, sitting just behind the crew chiefs/gunners with a great view out the side windows and plenty of time to observe the country-side from low altitude. From the air, the unlimited potential of this fledgling democracy becomes obvious.

The entire area I flew over is smack in the middle of the "fertile crescent" between and around the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. When you look at maps of Iraq, this central portion of the country is generally shown as green. From the air, you can see why. The entire area is or was at one time under cultivation. Field boundaries, green crops, and the soil ridges from former crop plantings stretch as far as the eye can see. Unfortunately, less than 10% of this is currently in use and planted - that is the tragedy. This country in days past was the breadbasket of the Middle East and it can be again. If you have ever seen the agricultural areas of the Jordan River Valley in northern Israel, you know what I mean. This area has the same potential to be lush with crops from grains to date palms. It was before and can be again.

It is also apparent that the decay of Iraqi agriculture is not a new thing caused solely by the current war. Many of the fields I saw have been fallow for significantly more than 6 years. No, this is a long term decay as irrigation canals were poorly maintained, Saddam stole the water to fill the lakes around his palaces, and the farmers just gave up.

This vision of the potential locked within this nascent state, more than anything else, makes me hope they are successful. Iraq has the potential to become the economic powerhouse of the Middle East, they just have to survive long enough to get there.