| "> | | | | Ancient Wonders |
| History | | | | Did you know...Modern-day Iraq was the site of the |
| Did you know...Present-day Iraq was home of the | | | | Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven |
| ancient Mesopotamian civilization, which had been | | | | Wonders of the Ancient World. These gardens were |
| located in the Tigris-Euphrates river valley. | | | | built by King Nebuchadnezzar II about 600 BC. Like |
| Democracy | | | | the Colossus of Rhodes and the Statue of Zeus at |
| Did you Know...After several decades of tyrannical | | | | Olympia, the gardens were destroyed by time. |
| rule, Iraq has made substantial progress in political | | | | International Organizations |
| reforms. In the key October 2005 referendum, a | | | | Did you know...The country of Iraq is a full member |
| new constitution was adopted -- the first democratic | | | | of the United Nations as well as the League of Arab |
| constitution in 73 years -- and a new Parliament (a | | | | States and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting |
| 275-member Council of Representatives) was chosen | | | | Countries (also known as OPEC ). On December 21, |
| in elections. Meanwhile, Ibrahim al-Jaafari assumed | | | | 1945, the Arab nation was endorsed by the UN. In |
| power in the country. He was the country's first | | | | the early 1980s, Iraq's ambassador Ismat Kittani |
| pro-democratic leader to take up the post of Head | | | | became President of the Assembly of the United |
| of Government; then al-Jaafari was succeeded by | | | | Nations in New York City, NY. |
| Nuri al-Maliki. The new government has been | | | | Independence |
| recognized by several nations of the world. The | | | | Did you know...The gradual introduction of reforms in |
| country was one of the world's worst dictatorships | | | | the 1920s led to independence from Britain in the |
| from 1979 until 2003 when Saddam Hussein was | | | | early 1930s, following the World War II , and Iraq |
| overthrown. | | | | became a modern monarchy. |
| Geography | | | | Iraq in Miss Universe |
| Did you know...The Arab country is the 65th largest | | | | Did you know...Inspired by Georgina Rizk's victory in |
| nation on Earth, ahead of Japan, Germany and | | | | Miss Universe 1971, the Arab nation sent a |
| Norway. It -- 168,754 square miles-- is about the size | | | | contestant to the Miss Universe Pageant in San Juan |
| of California. | | | | de Puerto Rico in July 1972. Miss Iraq Universe, |
| Olympic Games | | | | Wijdan Burham El-Deen Sulyman , arrived on Puerto |
| Did you know... Six athletes competed for Iraq, a | | | | Rico to an enthusiastic welcome, but she was |
| war-torn country since 1990, at the Summer Olympic | | | | eliminated in the first round. No other Iraqi woman |
| Games in the People's Republic of China. During that | | | | had ever participated in it before. |
| time, the Iraqi Olympic Committee had their hopes | | | | Authors |
| pinned on Ali Adnan, an archer. Before the 2008 | | | | Did you know...Feisal II, former King of Iraq, published |
| Olympics, Adnan had trained in the Republic of Korea, | | | | "How To Defend Yourself ", a book on judo. |
| the world's Olympic archery superpower. | | | | National Icons |
| Economics | | | | Did you know... After winning the 2007 Asian Cup and |
| Did you know... . In the 1950s, Iraq had a relatively | | | | other awards, Younes Mahmoud became the toast |
| high GDP per capita in comparison to most Asian | | | | of his homeland. In Italy, in November 2007, Iraq's |
| nations, including South Korea, Malaysia, and Taiwan. | | | | soccer player Younes Mahmoud won the "Facchetti |
| The Mother Teresa of Iraq | | | | Award", a prize in memory of Giacinto Facchetti, one |
| Did you know...The country's idol Madeeha Hasan | | | | of Europe's most popular soccer players in the past |
| Odhaib, a former seamstress, was named one of | | | | century. Facchetti's son Gianfelice has said of Younes: |
| "Time" magazine's 2008 100 Most Influential People in | | | | "I thought of Younes, because he, like my father, |
| the world.In the last years, she backed up a host of | | | | has left a beautiful legacy. He has given his |
| women and children in the Arab nation. "Iraq is | | | | fellow-countrymen hope and optimism with the goal |
| suffering one of the worst humanitarian crises we | | | | which enabled Iraq to win the Asian Cup in the final |
| have ever seen. While Madeeha rightly makes Time's | | | | against Saudi Arabia. He is the athlete who triggered |
| list, women like her are found throughout Iraq, | | | | the first real celebration in his country after years of |
| sewing hope one stitch at a time. Through Madeeha | | | | horror. He has proved that the will of man is stronger |
| we celebrate all of Iraq's courageous women, whose | | | | than a war which started with a lie and which has |
| resilience and resourcefulness hold the promise of a | | | | never been explained". |
| new dawn", said Rania, Queen of Jordan, of | | | | Iraq's Capital |
| Madeeha. | | | | Did you know...Baghdad is one of the oldest |
| Universal Wonders | | | | metropolises in the world. Apart from that, from 1932 |
| Did you know...The California-size land boasts three | | | | to 1955, it was one of Arab's most important cities, |
| UNESCO World Heritage Sites: | | | | along with Cairo, Alexandria, Casablanca, Tehran and |
| - Hatra | | | | Karachi. |
| - Ashur | | | | History |
| - Samarra Archaeological City | | | | Did you know...Between 1932 and 1947, despite being |
| Soccer | | | | made up of more than 10 ethnic groups, Iraq was |
| Did you know...In 2004, the national team finished | | | | one of the most stable and peaceful nations in the |
| fourth in the Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, | | | | Middle East. During that time, it had not had wars, |
| behind Argentina, Paraguay and Italy and ahead of | | | | conflicts, coup d' etats, Marxist revolutions, and |
| South Korea and Australia. Exactly three years on, | | | | terrorism. The Asian nation had been put on the |
| the Iraqi men's soccer national squad won the Asian | | | | tourism map: it was well-known for its historical |
| Cup in 2007 (the winners of the regional tournament | | | | buildings, archaeological sites and Arab markets, as |
| are often seen like the favorites to qualify for the | | | | well as exotic dancers and friendly people. |
| FIFA World Cup). The award had been a long time in | | | | Famous Women |
| coming. In a country that's sometimes been unfairly | | | | Did you know... The California-size land is home to a |
| viewed as one of the world's worst Olympic nations, | | | | number of notable women: Sabiha Al-Dabbagh, |
| this victory became an example for many | | | | doctor; Sabiha Al-Khated, feminist; Intisar |
| impoverished countries in the Third World. Since then, | | | | Shaker,athlete; Take Zaha Hadid, achitect; Queen |
| Iraq's victory set off a wave of euphoria across | | | | Aliyah; Nzik Al-Mala Ikah, author; Suad Abdallah, |
| Baghdad and Arbil, as well as Mosul and other Iraqi | | | | performer; Hanaa Busha, feminist. |
| metropolises. The war-torn country of Iraq had | | | | Ancient Empires |
| never won an international tournament of such | | | | Did you know...Modern-Iraq was part of the Ottoman |
| standing before. | | | | Empire. |