Adhesive86, the USA can always make a vassal out of Iraq, by using BTS' colony feature on the city info screen! But if they do it too soon and remove too many of their troops, before ridding the region of barbarians, it will get overrun. I think this is perfectly realistic.
Also, since we have merged in the revolutions mod, there is a chance a new, hostile civ will form in Iraq, if the USA doesn't manage it properly.
"Indeed US forces are actively working towards a pull out leaving independent, friendly governments are they not?"
I haven't seen any evidence of this, other than talk on TV (which is usually the opposite of the truth). Anyway, that's another discussion, we are just going to try an represent what is happening RIGHT NOW, since predicting the future even slightly is very generally difficulty. So far the US has not reduced troops at all, they have only escalated the war.
"The latest Africa solution looks fantastic."
Yes it sure does, let's all thank Genghis for that!
P.S. Your sig makes me laugh. I almost got kicked off my hockey team as a child for pointing that out.