Higher production could make Iraq the world's second-largest oil exporter. Most of the added oil won't go to the U.S., but to countries helping Iraq rebuild its oil facilities and basic infrastructure.

Now that U.S. troops have pulled out Iraq, turns out direct benefit for American oil companies never materialized.

Nouri al-Maliki meets with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The trade group says its members are ready to sign hundreds of millions of dollars worth of new contracts.

Iraq's stock market -- like the rest of the country -- prepares for life in 2012, after U.S. forces withdraw from the country.