In the heart of the Middle East in the land of ancient Mesopotamia, with two great rivers spanning its length — the Euphrates and Tigris — lies Iraq. By these two waters, the earliest civilization was born. What better place for a new idea to take root then near historic Babylon, in modern-day Baghdad? From this seed of an idea, planted in the fertile soil of the Founding Fathers’ minds and watered by the desire to have dignity and control over their own natural resources, OPEC grew. There was no fanfare, no media. Not even, at first, the clear desire to form an Organization. But that 14 September day in 1960 has ... (full story)