"Did you know that they introduced the 15 percent flat tax on individual and corporate income in Iraq? Something that some politicians very much wanted to push in the United States without success but in Iraq they do it"

In this quote, Juan Cole is highlighting the reality that Iraq has implemented a 15 percent flat tax on both private and corporate earnings. This is a policy that some political leaders in the United States have actually tried to push for, but without success. Cole is mentioning the paradox that a nation like Iraq, which has faced many obstacles and disputes, has actually been able to successfully execute this tax system while the United States has not. This could be viewed as a commentary on the political environment and decision-making processes in both nations. It also raises questions about the effectiveness and prospective advantages of a flat tax system.