When we visited Baghdad in April, Jared Cohen from the State Department emphasized the trip would only be successful if we were able to help with deliverables, not just talk. Well, Google has been hard at work and this week was able to announce two amazing initiatives.

1) Google will work to scan and digitize the artifacts of the Iraqi National Museum, an awesome collection of some of the Middle East’s oldest artifacts.

2) The Government of Iraq has set up a YouTube channel. When in Baghdad, government officials stressed to me how important communication and transparency would be in this new era to build trust among citizens and help the world understand Iraq’s evolution. We at YouTube are incredible proud to support this effort and make available the tools they need to broadcast themselves to the world.