It should be clear. For it to be clear you need to see what the other timeline looks like. Perhaps war on the scale that pulls in the rest of the world.

Regional powers are in check. Iran or Iraq were trying to get the bomb. Pakistan and India were on the edge of dropping a bomb on each other. Israel has been trying to get someone to attack Iran.

Keeping warlords in power is easy but longterm it works against your interests. Having a free Iraq has changed the region. It has given voice to oppressed people. It probably has caused Turkey uproar over the Kurds in Turkey wanting to join with the Iraq Kurds. But that is to be expected.. each problem solved will reveal two more.