Its Not the Start We Want

    During the '70s and '80s, Iraq started exporting a few goods to several countries, especially food products. We also used to make electrical equipment that met local demand. For years,  Iraqi industry lived its golden age.
    When the Iraq-Iran war broke out in 1980, most of our industries were converted to make military hardware. Instead of making televisions that bring joy and happiness to people, we started making rockets that bring death and sorrow. We also started importing low-cost, low-quality goods from China and Singapore.
    When that war ended in 1988, I hoped that we would start a new reign of focusing on our own society's needs more than anything else, but the Saddam Hussein regime soon took Iraq deep into terrible problems by invading Kuwait in 1990. From then till now, Iraqis' life has gone from bad to worse. These days, we even import most of our food from neighboring countries like Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan.
    I really don't know when we are going to take care of our our needs and re-start industry in Iraq, which was once was one of the best in the Middle East.
    Yesterday, the weather reports told about a sandstorm covers the entire region.  The storm started in Iraq.
    This is not a good start for exporting to neighboring countries. I hope we soon start exporting useful products that can bring joy to others--and bring us some money.

Comments

[Laura]

Your use of the word 'export' brought to my mind that something HAS been exported: some of the spent uranium that contaminates the earth of Iraq is being spread out (and, maybe, buried?) Raising the question: does this help reduce its toxicity, or spread the problem out further? I wonder if anyone is researching this.