The land we now know as Iraq has been around since the begining of history. Located in the true center of the middle east, this land has been fought over and conquered countless times throughout the centuries.

Iraq was first the home of the ancient Sumerians, the world's first civilization. The Sumerians settled into this region, developing many technologies and concepts still in use today. They picked this land to settle because of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers that flow through the desert valley. It was actually the Tigris and Euphrates that influenced the name Mesopotamia, which is Greek for "between two rivers."

The city of Baghdad is the national capital, with a population of around 6 million (Iraq itself is around 25 million). The city was founded in 762 by Abu Jafar al-Mansur as a military and administrative center during the Abbasid dynasty, and it quickly grew into a cultural hub. At one point, Baghdad was known as Madinat al Salam, or City of Peace. And so ya know, the name Baghdad is actually not Arabic but Persian, and means "Founded by God."

Iraq's economy grew quickly in the 1970s during the oil boom, allowing an influx of infrastructural upgrades like sewage systems and water lines. But this was quickly damaged uring the 80s, when Iraq went to war with Iran (1980-1988).

Summer in Iraq is hot and dry, with little humidity during the transitional months. Northern Iraq gets very cold in winter, and the mountains near Mosul, Kirkuk, and Sulaymaniyah receive regular snowfall. Western Iraq is the most arid region, with little else but sand and dirt in every direction. This is home to the Jazeera Desert, as well as the Jazeera Tribe (a group of Arabs that live in the entire region). Southern Iraq is primarily a mixture of dried-up swamplands and marshes. This dank climate makes a great home for mosquitos, so Malaria is a big concern.

Farmers grow dates and cotton where they can, and grains and vegetables closer to the rivers. Iraqi Dates are a delicacy, and are well desired throughout the Arab world. Northern Iraq is not as fertile, but benefits in other ways, such as having some of the largest oil fields. This is also where the region of Kurdistan makes its claim, as it is home to a large number of Iraqi Kurds. Kurds are an ethnic minority in Iraq, and I will explain more about them further down the page. As of 2005, the current Iraqi President was and still is a Kurd (Jalaal Talabani).

Iraq's flag bears the colors of Islam (Green, White, Red, Black). It is similar to the flags of Syria, Yemen, and Egypt, but Iraq's is the only flag with three green stars and the Arabic text (Allahu Akbar - God is Great). This Arabic was added during the invasion of Kuwait in 1991.

Syria	Yemen	Egypt

For me to really understand Iraq, I had to learn about the people who called it their home, and about the religion that came from the region. I have included some additional information on this page, to help explain some common traits in other Arab countries and cultures. You might have heard these terms before, but never really thought about what they really mean: Muslim, Islam, Persian, Arab, Sunni, Shia (or Shi'ite), and Kurd. Until recently I didn't even know the difference between an Arab and a Persian, but all of this is important to know. I feel that most of us Americans are afraid of what we don't understand, and this creates many problems in our foreign policies.

I will now try to explain (in my eyes) what Islam means, who Muhammad was, and describe the core difference between a Sunni and a Shia.

Islam is an Arabic word, and means "Submission to the will of God." A person who believes in Islam is called a Muslim. People from all ethnic backgrounds and countries can be Muslims - they don't have to be Arabs. In fact, there are more Muslims in Indonesia than the entire Middle East.

So who was Muhammad? He was just a regular guy, nothing supernatural about him. But he became a Prophet, and is of great importance to Islam (although he is not worshipped). He was born in Makkah or Mecca (a city in what is now Saudi Arabia) back in 570 AD, and was raised by his uncle. Muhammad was known for his trustworthiness, and was often asked to arbitrate disputes. He would sometimes meditate in a cave and collect his thoughts to help find an answer.

At the age of 40, during one of his meditations, the angel Gabriel appeared and spoke to Muhammad. Gabriel (Jabril in Arabic) gave him a message from God. This message was one of many he would receive over the next twenty-three years.

Muhammad wrote these messages down with the help of friends, and this collection of writings became known as the Qur'an (Koran). Koran is another Arabic word, and means "recitation."

According to Islam, Muhammad was the last prophet, or messenger, of God. He was of a long line of prophets, including Moses, Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, and Jesus. He's simply saying he's the last one of them. Muslims do not believe there will be another prophet.

So, what does Muhammad have to do with Sunnis and Shias? After Muhhamad's death, there was a dispute about who would succeed him as the leader of this now-growing religion. The people needed someone strong like Muhammad to guide them as they learned the ways of Islam.

One group of followers (We call them Shia, or Shi'ites) felt that the successor should be a relative of Muhammad (a man named Imam Ali). They believe Allah instructed Muhammad to leave Imam as next leader. They are "Shi'at Ali" (Followers of Ali).

Another group (known as the Sunnis) believed that Muhammad did not choose a specific successor. They believed that Muhammad left this decision to the Muslims, and they would find their own leader after his passing.

The Sunnis chose someone, whom they would later name Caliph. This is in accordance with their "tradition" or Sunnah (hence the name). The person they chose was not a relative of Muhammad's family, so the Shi'ites refused to accept him. This is where Islam split into two main branches... Sunni Islam and Shia Islam.

The Muslim World is primarily Sunni, with the majority of the Middle East also primarily Sunni. Iraq is one of the exceptions to this, as 60% of Iraqis are Shia, with the rest being Sunni and other religions. Also interesting to note is Iran is also primarily Shia, and while Iraq and Iran have fought many times throughout the centuries, they actually have a lot in common.

I mentioned a word earlier, called Caliph. These were the leaders of the Islamic world, as they were in charge of the people's administrative, religious, and legal guidance. This governing rule was known as The Caliphate.

Persia is a name that has been used for centuries to designate the region of Iran formerly known as Persis or Parsa, the name of the Indo-European nomads who migrated to the region around 1000 BC.

One of Persia's leaders was Cyrus II, also known as Cyrus the Great. He ruled Mesopotamia from 559-529 BC, and took control of Babylon (a major city in southern Iraq) in 539 BC.

In the center of the map you can visualize where Iran and Iraq are positioned.  The two rivers connecting at the Persian Gulf are the Tigris and Euphrates.

Over the centuries, the boundaries have changed, even to the point where modern-day Mosul (in northern Iraq), and modern-day Herat (in Afghanistan) used to be part of Persia.

So who are the Kurds, and where do they fit in?

Kurds are an old tribe from ancient Persian times, originally a group of nomads that lived on the plateaus and mountains north of Iran. They slowly settled West, and now mostly live in Turkey, and Iraq, and some in Iran still. This overlapping area in Turkey, northern Iraq, and Iran, is often referred to as Kurdistan.

Kurds may look similar to Arabs and Persians, but they are their own unique kind, and have been oppresed by all sides. They may speak Arabic, Farsi, or Turkish, but they have their own language, actually close to a cross between Farsi and Hindi (the languages of Iran and India).

They were oppressed under previous rule, including Saddam's reign, which is why they have used this recent war as an opportunity to claim their autonomy. This will definitely come with great resistance, as the major oil fields are in Kurdistan, and Iraq does not want to lose that.

The Kurds now have a powerful playing card, their relative freedom. And with the recent election of the new Iraqi President, a fellow Kurd named Jalal Talabani, they have a strong voice in the Iraqi government. Mr. Talabani is Iraq's first Kurdish President. This still does not mean Iraq is listening to their concerns, so Kurdish Rebel Groups have sprung up.

More of that for later.

Now back to the beginning...

Iraq covers a large portion of land in what was known in ancient times as Mesopotamia. The word Mesopotamia is Greek, meaning "between two rivers." In this case, the two rivers are the Tigris and Euphrates. The Sumerians settled into the region around 4000 B.C., and developed the earliest writing system (cuneiform), as well as the first form of banking and currency.

The Sumerians were eventually overrun and conquered by a number of tribes. One of these new tribal leaders was King Hammurabi, who took control of Sumer in 1700 B.C. (people often misspell this as Sumeria).

Hammurabi united the many indigenous tribes, building an impressive and large civilization. He is also credited with the creation of a uniquely detailed book of laws, still referenced today, known as Hammurabi's Code. It was this tome that orginated the expression, "Eye for an eye." Hammurabi also transformed Babylon from a Sumerian suburb into a cultural hub still talked about today.

As time passed, Hammurabi's rule would eventually be succeeded by a man named Nebuchadnezzar II, a brilliant general and tactician. More known for creating the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, it is believed he built this architectural wonder for his wife, as an elaborate reminder of her more mountainous homeland.

I have not gotten confirmation of this, but the lion supposedly represents the Sumerians, attacking on an old enemy, the Ethiopians.

Come modern times, the Hanging Gardens no longer exist, nor does most of Babylon. The remains are currently being excavated and restored near the town of Hilla, about 60 miles south of Baghdad. If you would like to see pictures from my visit to the ruins, click here.

Alexander the Great was yet another famous name to conquer the fertile land of Mesopotamia. This famous Greek ruler had plans for Babylon, but lost control of the region (uh, he died).

By the time of Christ, Babylon had seen so many battles that it was in largely in ruins and deserted. Just imagine all the damage inflicted upon it.

Jumping forward to 750 AD, an Arabic tribe known as the Abbasids took control of Mesopotamia and founded the city of Baghdad. Built around the Tigris River, Baghdad quickly grew to become a major intellectual and cultural center. As a result of Baghdad's growth, people travelled to the region from all over.

Two important groups that saw the power of Baghdad and wanted influence over this land were the Safavids and Ottomans. The Safavids (of Persian origin) and the Ottomans (Turkish) fought and captured different parts of this land over the next few centuries.

At the turn of the 20th century, Arabia was under Ottoman rule. But World War I broke out, and the British invaded Arabia as part of their campaign against the Ottoman Empire. Britain (with the help of many Arab groups) gained control of the land. After the war, King Faisal was appointed as Iraq's Monarch in 1921. It didn't really become an independent country until 1932, when it joined the League of Nations (now called the United Nations - UN).

Iraq has since undergone several military coups, including Saddam Hussein's rise to power in 1979.

Other Key Times:

1980-1988.  Territorial disputes with Iran led to an inconclusive and costly eight-year war.

August 1990.  Iraq seized Kuwait, but a United States-led UN Coalition liberated the country during the Gulf War of 1991. After this event, the UN Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to destroy all weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and long-range missiles and to allow future UN inspections. However, over the next 12 years, Iraqi did not comply with these demands. This, along with misleading and distorted intelligence, resulted in the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 and the removal of Saddam Hussein and the current government.

July, 2004.  Iraq has officially been turned over to the new Iraqi Interim Government. US Troops remain (along with the Multi National Coalition Forces) to assist with the restoration of peace while the country rebuilds. As I write this (15-AUG-2004), there is much resistance from small groups of insurgents (not just Iraqis but neighbors that travelled here to start trouble). A particular Iraqi Cleric, Muqtada Al-Sadr, has been building up a resistance because he believes that the United States is a threat to Muslims.

January, 2005.  The first Iraqi election in 50 years has been a success, despite insurgents' attempts to halt the process. 70% of the Iraqi population turned out to vote. This is - ironically - almost the same percentage of Americans that do not vote.

April, 2005.  Iraq's new President is Jalal Talabani, of Kurdish ethnicity. Shortly after, a Shia Arab named Ibrahim Jaafari was sworn in as Prime Minister. This is important because Shia Muslims make up the majority in Iraq, and ethnic Kurds control the northern region of the country.  Having both these groups involved in the new government is key to uniting and rebuilding the country. Sunni Arabs have been upset with the entire process because they knew that there wouldn't be enough votes to take the Presidential slot or Prime Minister. This is why we have seen amplified violence in Sunni-populated areas.  There is a good chance that civil war will follow, but the position of Vice President will most likely go to a Sunni, in an effort to bring the people of Iraq together.

I have no idea if we should have come out here or not, and neither do the Iraqis, Europeans, or the rest of America for that matter. Bottom line is I have seen both positive and negative things out here. Our United States Armed Forces have carried out many brave missions in an attempt to rebuild Iraq and stabilize the Middle East. On the flip side, our military has also commited unthinkable acts, and recently faced embarrassing scandals such as the abuse at Abu Ghraib Prision.

Regardless of how you feel, we should all accept the fact that we let our country go to war without any plan on how to fix things afterward.  Iraq is a mess, and we don't know what to do about it.  This has nothing to do with us staying or withdrawing.  This has to do with nation building.

Nothing is clear-cut. Not a single country can truly say they've always been innocent. And not one single person or group will ever know the entire story. All we can do is share what we've learned and listen to each other, so we all may benefit one day.

I will continue to be proud of my country, despite the opinion of the rest of the world. That said, I will uphold my duties as a patriot, and will challenge my country's intent to ensure that we do the right thing.