So, here is the dictionary definition of irony:

Incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs.

In a nation literally afloat with oil (they have the world’s third largest reserves) it might come as a surprise to you to find that Iraqis have been urged to save fuel (at one or two cents per liter because of subsidies). So Iraq has come to the point where cars with license plates ending in odd numbers drive one day, and even numbers on the other day.

Why? Well not because of congestion, as some people believe, but because of the state of Iraq’s refineries. But hasn’t the US been pumping billions of dollars into upgrading these facilities? Well apparently not enough, or has that money been uselessly and carelessly spent? Not so - the money has gone into pumping oil not refining it - and the Iraqis are starting to pay the price for that.