Iraq

Iraq (Arabic: العراق Al-Irāq), officially the Republic of Iraq (Arabic:  جمهورية العراق (help·info) Jumhūrīyat Al-Irāq, Kurdish: كؤماری عه‌راق‎, Komara Îraqê, Assyrian: ܥܝܪܐܩ) is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert.

Iraq is bordered by Jordan to the west, Syria to the northwest, Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, and Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to the south. Iraq has a narrow section of coastline measuring 58 km (35 miles) on the northern Persian Gulf. The capital city, Baghdad (Arabic: بغداد‎ Baġdād), is in the center-east of the country.

Two major rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates, run through the centre of Iraq, flowing from northwest to southeast. These provide Iraq with agriculturally capable land and contrast with the steppe and desert landscape that covers most of Western Asia.

Historically, the territory comprising Iraq was known in Europe by the Greek toponym 'Mesopotamia' (Land between the rivers). Iraq has been home to continuous successive civilizations since the 6th millennium BC. The region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers is identified as the cradle of civilization and the birthplace of writing and the wheel.

Throughout its long history, Iraq has been the center of the Akkadian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Hellenistic, Parthian, Sassanid and Abbasid empires, and part of the Achaemenid, Roman, Rashidun, Umayyad, Mongol, Ottoman and British empires. The Kingdom of Iraq was founded in 1932.

Beginning with an invasion in 2003, Iraq came under military occupation by a multinational coalition of forces, mainly American and British.

The occupation theoretically ended when sovereignty was transferred to the Iraqi Interim Government June 2004, although around 150,000 American troops remain in the country. A new Constitution of Iraq has since been approved by referendum and a new Government of Iraq has been elected. There is a deadline for the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Iraq by 31st December 2011.

Pope Francis at Redipuglia Military Sacrarium

Pope Francis: World War III Has Started On Piecemeal

Russia versus Ukraine, Israel versus the Hamas and the US versus the Islamic State. At the rate international conflicts are being resolved by the use of arms and force, World War III has actually started on a piecemeal, Pope Francis warned on Saturday.
Sep 14, 2014
Foreign citizens working and living in Ukraine wave the flags of their countries during a rally demanding justice for the victims of the downed Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, at Independence Square in Kiev July 27, 2014. Nearly 300 people, 193 of them Dut

Global Aviation Accidents: UN to Form Safety Task Force, Gov'ts Should Share Intelligence Info to Avert Future Incidents on Flying Over Warzones (PHOTOS)

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has said it will be creating a task force on airline safety in light of the fatal downing of Malaysia Airlines MH17 over war-torn Ukraine. This, as the global aviation industry rallied that governments must relay or share intelligence information to avert future incidents on flying over war-zone declared areas.
Jul 30, 2014

The Regal Eagles: Celebrities Who Share Birthdays With the Royal Baby

July 22, 2013 would always be famous for being the birth date of the royal baby of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, third in line to the throne, preceded by his grandfather Prince Charles and father, Prince Williams. But which other celebrities share the same birth date?
Jul 23, 2013