A few years ago, I received a request for proposal for some work in Iraq--mostly the Kurdish region. It was a very lucrative opportunity, and we would have had well-armed private security. I had no problem with it, having worked in many places in South and Central America where armed guards are routine. In fact, every significant business in Mexico has armed guards on the premises at all times.

The job never came through, because Siemens, the main contractor, couldn't find any of its people to agree to go over there in spite of huge bonuses. The media's characterization of Iraq as certain death for Americans had created fear so deep that no incentive would work.

Contrast this with Mexico, which inarguably has had many more incidents of violence against Americans that Iraq every did on its worst day, and you have to be perplexed by this mild warning from the U.S. state department for Spring Break travellers.