And never mind two hundred years ... I wish someone had told me to put money into Google, Apple or Twitter barely ten years ago.
Anyway that's just the kind of thinking that's been going on at a swanky Washington DC hotel, close to Union Station, where thousands of business people have been gathering for a two day conference on investing in Iraq.
The event was attended on Tuesday, 20th October, by Iraq's prime minister Nouri al-Maliki and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as well as a long list of leading Iraqi ministers and business leaders.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said tickets for the first Iraq business and investment conference sold out fast, which, she said, proved the country has more potential than most people outside the room realise.
"I urge U.S. businesses to really see all of the progress that has been made ..."
![[QODLink]](http://english.aljazeera.net/mritems/Images/2012/5/22/201252212352677734_16.jpg "Click here for our coverage")
