January 2007
For hundreds of years, Iraq has been at the crossroads of global concerns regarding religion, economics, and politics. The tangle of these issues propels events yet confounds those who wish to understand this most complex nation. Its centrality continues today as the world begins the new millennia with armed conflict, religious strife, economic disruption and the promise of democracy all centering upon Iraq. The world watches as these forces are unleashed and the reality of sectarian violence results in a chaotic state where no one seems safe. The maps and articles in this issue shine light on the historical, religious, regional and economic background of this most pressing current event.
Debra Block, Director of Education, NBLMC
- Foreign Troops in Iraq: 140,000
- Estimated Number of Shiite Militia: 50,000
- Unemployment Rate: 33%
- Per Capita GDP (in US Dollars): $1150
- Arable Land: 13%
- US troops killed as of January 1, 2007: 3000
- US Dollars spent on war as of January 1, 2007: 400 Billion
Boston Globe Foundation
State Street Corporation
Mabel Louise Riley Foundation
Cabot Family Charitable Trust
