I'll start out with a congratulations to Sims for his victory and thanks to all for a well played game. Now on to some analysis.

When I found out that I would be Iraq and studied my situation, I realized the inequities of the map. I figured that either one of three things would happen: I would fight with Iran and win OR I would fight against Iran and Israel and face a precarious situation OR I would find some sort of common ground with Iran and make my way to Israel.

I threw out offers to both Iran and Israel, and waited to see responses. A lot of talking occurred prior to the first season and I was concerned of the potential that Israel and Iran would attack me. I was also very concerned about the Russia situation. If John focused only on Trout, then I would really be up the creek. I figured that my best shot was to offer Israel Damascus and concentrate on Iran with the hope that Sims would agree to move north. I posed offers to John but he was a bit out of this game and ultimately CDed.

When things worked out with Israel, it was a hop skip and jump to Tehran (no offense to Ray). The map is extremely unfavorable to Iran and Turkey. I posed offers to Trout to ignore Ray and me and simply focus on Israel. Trouts sacrifice of a build in Fall 2002 to help Ray was a major decision point for Turkey. While things may not have ended much differently for Trout had he neglected support for Iran, he would have been in better shape with regards to unit numbers. He might have been able to hold ADA.

Once we were arriving near EOG, I realized that I was outmatched in the north by Sims and was becoming increasingly concerned with his movements. I figured that the South and middle were settled and that I could force a draw if Sims did not intend to keep our original plan. I simply needed 4 units in the North. I had three in the North and Trout was down to 1 in Krakow. I offered him twice the opportunity to draw the game with me to stop what I believed was Sims plan to solo. He refused in what I believe was spite or indifference to Sims solo. Then, he helped Sims along in the solo. A few turns later, EOG.

Now for recommendations:

I agree that the Arabian Desert should be opened up and turned into Saudi Arabia. However, I do not feel that the map itself should be expanded. There is more than enough room to place 5 SCs in the desert plus a number of empty spots. I think Saudi Arabia should be closer to Israel than Iraq. Iran and Iraq are already on top of each other and Israel is pretty much isolated with a ton of SCs around it.

I do not agree with adding Egypt to the map or the full Mediterranean to the Map. At that point you almost have to add in Greece, Italy, etc and then its no longer a MIDEAST map.

In terms of units, BAS and TEH should both be armies. I do not think that Iran should have an army in AZE. Iran should start with an Army in either ELB or ISF instead.

In terms of SCs, there are too few on the map. I am not advocating turning every spot into an SC, but the number of open SCs to start the game in the North is 4. This pales in comparison to the 7 in the South. If UZB and KAZ were partitioned, something could be added there. An SC in ARM or partitioning TRA into two countries and placing an SC in Eastern TRA would be meaningful. An SC in CRE might help.

Finally, the situation with CYP should be fixed. Either by adding more bodies of water or by shifting the bodies of water so that two hit CYP.

Good Luck and thanks for a fun game.

-Jon