In April 2003 Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was over-thrown by a coalition of American and British forces and their allies. Since that time, Iraq's government has worked toward establishing a lasting democracy. It hasn't been an easy transition. But the political landscape of Iraq has historically been complex. In ancient times Sumerians, Babylonians, and Assyrians all sought to control what is modern-day Iraq. Later, the region was variously conquered by the Greeks, the Romans, and the Persians. Islam was introduced to Iraq in the seventh century and quickly became the national religion. Since gaining independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1918, clashing tribes and opposing Muslim factions have fostered ongoing resentments that make true national unity elusive.

The first democratically elected government is now facing threats from both political in-fighting and extremist insurgents determined to make the country an Islamic theocracy and put the country's recently found freedoms in doubt. Book jacket.