This course is designed to teach you about the country of Iraq, focusing on the issues of oil, terrorism (both pre and post-2003), weapons of mass destruction (both pre and post-1991), and the ongoing U.S. reconstruction. You will study the entire history of the Middle East, including Palestine and Mesopotamia from biblical times to present. Then this course will take you through the three periods of Iraqi history: before Saddam Hussein, the reign of Saddam Hussein, and Iraq since Saddam Hussein.