ARTICLE: "Shell Opens an Office in Baghdad After a 36-Year Absence," by Sam Dagher, New York Times, 23 September 2008.

For a stretch a couple years back, I did my PNM/BFA brief for the near entirety of the Royal Dutch/Shell global management cohort (splitting the briefs between New York and Beijing). Every time, I asked them what it would take to get them back inside Iraq. A certain baseline of security and the upside of serious potential, all replied.

But here's the big point they made: when we leave, we leave for a long time, so when we return it'll be a big deal.

So this is a big deal.