Looking at what western gaming excels at both quality wise, and sales wise, it's undeniable to say that shooters and military themes are very big. The original Halo released in 2001 had definant military themes, but by the time Halo 2 came out it didn't take a genious to figure out the parallels. From Soldiers yelling "Hoo-RAH" to the fighting against religious extremist zealots. Master cheif became the iconic perfect soldier in the unnamed Earth (but obviously US) space army, it was no wonder that the game became adored by the US army and soldiers alike.

Since then there has been no shortage of soldiers, military simulations, and army themed games. From Gears of war, to the latest Turok, western games and gamer adore recreating the life and trials of a soldier. And I don't even think I have to mention Call Of Duty 4, that left behind World War 2 to join a fight that hits a bit closer to home. Fighting terrorists in an unnamed middle eastern country.

Outside of the west, people could care less about our Halo's, and COD4, and Gears of War, SOCOM, ect. It seems to strictly be a phenomenon of western countries that have been engaged in a war for more than half of last generation and all of this generation so far. 

  The question is, if America hadn't gone to war in the middle east would these games exist now? Would that have the same degree of popularity? What would the face of western gaming look like?

Thoughts? Opinions? 

 I am going to guess your not from the US :)

 Yes. The US has always been that way. in the 1970's, when I was a kid, I played war and shot my friends with toy guns. It's part of the culture, and always have been. 

We as a country have always looked favorably to war. I do think recent events have propelled the love of war and soldiers into gaming, but it has more to do with 9-11 than the Iraq War. We've been a bit bloodthirsty for the Middle East since 2001.

What I find funny is, even with all of these games tackling war, no one will directly tackle the Iraq War itself. Every developer is tip-toeing around it.

 I think that this is a mistake.  I would buy an Iraq game.  They had Conflict: Desert Storm, Bungie's Operation Desert Storm for the Mac, etc.

There's been countless games involving terrorists and the middle east since 2001 its just a hot topic and people wanting to make a buck just like the popular thing now is to put down the war and I'm sure if someone had their way they would make "lets hate the war together" life simulator.