Would you go to Iraq for a year and be paid $200k?
thesethings: 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. You read Hacker News after all :D You know all about salary ranges, entrepreneurship, affiliate programs, Parrot Books, and Adsense. I'm not saying we all make 200K, we just all know about opportunities... :D ).So... unless it's desperate, debt or any kind of financial incentive is probably a bad reason to pick any job under such unique conditions.  That said, if the experience is compelling, then listen to that part of your heart.Good luck. Let us know what you choose.