"Pretend the salary is the same in both places, and judge the decision just on the experience factor. I say this because for a variety of reasons, you could make that much money in the States as a reasonably curious, skilled person."

200K for one year in Iraq might actually be significantly more than 200K for one year in California, for instance, depending on cost of living. I can't imagine actually buying anything in Iraq would cost much (or be that compelling of an option), so if room and board is either cheap or included with the job, you might save a lot of the 200K.