As of March this year the Pentagon were tagging the cost at $600 billion so far, that's the Pentagon, and that's obviously still rising, after Bush predicted it would cost $50-60 billion 5 years ago. Yeah, good one, you nearly got it right, only $550 billion out. Not that much then. Don't worry he might make it back, or by God's sacred scrotum he'll sink the free market economy trying. Some analysts, including the Congressional Budget Office, are estimating the potential cost will be a mind-boggling, soul-destroying, let-me-claw-out-Bush's-eyes-and-shit-in-his-ravaged-sockets amount of $1-$2 trillion. A Nobel Prize-winning economist and critic of the war, Joseph E. Stiglitz, claims the long-term costs could be as much as $4 trillion - all, obviously, depending on how long it drags on for. And now Bush is off to enjoy his delightful retirement while troops fight on in a seemingly endless war, and the Iraqi people live in chaos. I think we should catapult him into the moon as punishment.

If you haven't heard this case in the news or the other things people waste their time listening to, a dog nicknamed "Scooby Doo" solved a murder case by simply barking at someone in a lineup.

The case takes place in Paris when a dog was found locked up in a basement beside a women who was hanging from the celing. I'll try to keep this short since some people hate reading, specifically blogs. There was no physical evidence and for some silly reason the dog was held on trial for the murder(this is the first time this has ever happened). This guy is going to prison because a weird looking dog barked at him. Comment this and seeing how many people view ebaumsworld.com your judgement matters, and this guy's life is on the line!

Now I definately don't have anything what so ever against eBaum, but in the past week I'm sure the every day content submitters have noticed they haven't been getting the features they deserve. I'm personally not a complainer so I will blog about this in the least bitchy way possible. eBaum has probably been featuring content most you have submitted days ago. So if you agree with me I would like you to comment on your theory of why eBaum is doing this only to the high ranked people.

-Thanks, Your Friend:L_o_L

and Jerry Hall

Compared to other celebrity divorce settlements 25 million seems like a low number but it’s not considering that Mick Jagger and supermodel Jerry Hall were never actually married. Their “marriage” was a small religious ceremony in Bali that had no legal status. Their relationship lasted 21 years during which they had 4 children. In 1999 Hall filed for divorce asking for a $50 million settlement. Although she was legally entitled to nothing she made out with a reported $25 million.

2. $30 million- Ted Danson and Casey Coates

Cheers’ bartender Ted Danson married his first wife Casey Coates (10 years his senior) in 1976. A close couple, Danson took a six month off of work to nurse Coates back to health after she suffered a stroke during the birth of their first child. They had a second child together before the 1992 divorce. It is believed that Danson’s unusually close relationship to co-star Whoopi Goldberg while filming Made in America is what ultimately led to the divorce.

3. $45 million- Michael and Diandra Douglas

Actor/Producer Michael Douglas married Diandra in 1977, early in his carrier. After 20 years of marriage clothing store owner and mother of their child Diandra filed for divorce. The divorce settlement was $45 million, an estimated third of Douglas’s fortune at the time. Shortly after divorce Douglas married fellow actress Catherine Zeta-Jones. Notably, Douglas has been accused of being a sex addict.

4. $50 million- James Cameron and Linda Hamilton

Reportedly, the romance between famous director James Cameron and actress Linda Hamilton began in 1991, on the set of Terminator 2. The couple married in 1997 and had a daughter. Surprisingly, even after a long courtship the couple was only married for 17-months, 8 of which they were separated. During this time Cameron is believed to have been dating Titanic star Suzy Amis. In the end Cameron was forced settle with Hamilton who walked away with $50 million, half the revenue of the box-office hit Titanic.

5. $80 million- Kevin Costner and Cindy Silva

In 1994 Costner ended his 16-year marriage to restaurateur, college sweet-heart and mother of his three children, Cindy Silva. The two met while studying at California State University at Fullerton, before Costner hit it big. It is reported that Costner’s infidelity on set is what finally lead to their melt down.

6. $85 million plus- Harrison Ford and Melissa Mathison

Actor Harrison Ford and wife Melissa Mathison divorced in 2004 after 18 years of marriage. Mathison received an $85 million settlement as well as a share of all future earnings on movies he made while they were together. This includes royalties and DVD sales of 22 movies including Witness, The Fugitive and the Indiana Jones Trilogy.

7. $100 million- Steven Spielberg and Amy Irving

After 4 years of marriage and one child, actress Amy Irving and well-known director Steven Spielberg called it quits. Even though the couple had signed a prenuptial agreement before marriage Irving contested that at the time of signing she did not have the legal representation required. In the end Spielberg settled with Irving for $100 million.

8. $150 Million- Neil Diamond and Marcia Murphy

Legendary singer Neil Diamond and his second wife Marcia Murphy divorced in 1994 after 33 years of marriage. Diamond has been quoted saying that Marcia “earned every penny” and that “she’s been through thick and thin with [him] and deserves half of [his] fortune.” Although Diamond has not remarried he has been dating Rachel “Rae” Farley, 33, since 1996.

9. $168 million- Michael and Juanita Vanoy Jordan

Michael Jordan met Juanita Vanoy on a blind date in 1984 and by 1989 they were married. In 2002 the couple filed for their first divorce but reconciled shortly after. Again, in 2006 they filed for divorce, but this time they followed through. The couple had both signed a prenuptial agreement entitling Juanita two half of Michael’s fortune. In the end she walked away with a $168 million settlement, their seven-acre estate and custody of their three kids.

10. $300 million- Roman and Irina Abramovich

Roman Abramovich, now the richest man in Russia was once a struggling business man living with a wife and young daughter in a small flat. In 1990 Abramovich met the beautiful Irina, an Aeroflot flight attendant who soon became his second wife. While they were married Abramovich made his fortune. After 17 years of marriage the couple divorced. Somehow Abramovich talked the $7 billion divorce settlement down to a little cash and a few assets such as homes, a yacht and a plan. All of this amounts to about $300 million, a mere 2 percent of Abramovich’s $18.7 billion fortune.

11. $188-376 million- Paul McCartney and Heather Mills

In 2006—after 4 years of marriage and one child— the former Beatle filed for divorce from ex-model Heather Mills citing “unreasonable behavior.” Mills now claims that Sir McCartney abused her and that she has evidence to prove it. Although no settlement has been reached it is estimated that Mills will end up with $188 million to $376 million, really only a small portion of McCartney’s worth.

12. $460 million plus- Craig and Wendy McCaw

Craig McCaw’s fortune began when he turned the failing television cable service he inherited to a successful business. He eventually sold the it for $755 million. A visionary, he acquired cell phone licenses as early as 1981, which he was eventually able to sell to AT&T for $12 billion. He met his future wife before he made his billions when she tutored him at Stanford University. Their marriage lasted from 1974 until 1995. The settlement gave Wendy $460 million, enough to support her $200,000 per week lifestyle.

13. $874 million- Adan and Soraya Khashoggi

Adan Khashoggi made his early money as an international arms dealer for the Saudi royal family. He than started his own company Triad, which owned and managed banks, hotels, and real estate across the globe. He married Soraya in 1961. Both enjoyed living lavish lifestyles including thrilling affairs. They divorced in 1982 and Soraya walked away with an $874 million out-of-court settlement, one of the most expensive in history.

14. $1.7 billion- Rupert and Anna Murdoch

Rupert Murdoch is one of the richest men in the world. He made his fortune by inheriting his father’s Australian newspaper in 1952 and developing it into a worldwide media empire News Corporation. He married Anna in the 60’s and they had three children together. In 1999 they divorced and Rupert agreed to give Anna $1.7 billion mostly in assets, although she was removed from the News Corp board. Seventeen days after the divorce was finalized Rupert married his younger employee Wendi Deng.

15. A NEW HIGH?- Frederick and Vera Chiluba

The 33 year marriage between the former President of Zambia, Frederick Chiluba and his wife Vera was recently annulled. Ex-wife Vera is asking for a settlement of $2.5 billion (more than three quarters of the county’s Gross Domestic Product) in addition to a share of their concrete assets including six houses and a farm, she is also demanding over 400 cows, sheep, and goats. Since it is unknown exactly how much the ex-president is worth or how he was able to acquire the money this case has not yet been settled and Vera is living off government assistance.

Source:http://www.burnslawnj.com/articles/top-ten-most-expensive-divorces-of-all-time/

1. Los Del Rio - Macarena (1996)



2. Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby (1990)



3. Baha Men - Who Let the Dogs Out? (2000)



4. Right Said Fred - I'm Too Sexy (1991)



5. Dexys Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen (1982)



6. Joan Osbourne - One Of Us (1995)



7. Nena - 99 Luftballons (1984)



8. The Knack - My Sharona (1979)



9. Meredith Brooks - Bitch (1997)



10. Survivor - Eye of the Tiger (1982)





11. New Radicals - You Get What You Give (1999)



12. 4 Non Blondes - What's Up (1993)



13. Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares to you (1990)



14. Bobby McFerrin - Don't Worry Be Happy (1988)



15. Minnie Riperton - Lovin' You



16. The Cardigans - Lovefool (1996)



17. Soft Cell - Tainted Love (1982)



18. The Archies - Sugar, Sugar (1969)



19. Europe - The Final Countdown (1986)



20. Lou Bega - Mambo No. 5 (1999)





21. Aqua - Barbie Girl (1997)



22. EMF - Unbelievable (1991)



23. Eifel 65 - Blue (Da Ba Dee) (1999)



24. The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony (1997)



25. Falco - Rock me Amadeus (1985)



26. Spandau Ballet - True (1983)



27. Chumbawamba - Tubthumping (1997)



28. Haddaway - What is love (1993)



29. Des'ree - You gotta be (1994)



30. Blind Melon - No Rain (1992)





31. Ziggy Marley - Tomorrow People (1988)



32. Buggles - Video Killed the Radio Star (1979)



33. OMC - How Bizarre (1996)



34. Lipps, Inc. - Funkytown (1980)



35. Semisonic - Closing Time (1998)



36. A-ha - Take on me (1985)



37. Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Relax (1984)



38. Church - Under the Milky Way (1988)



39. Deee-Lite - Groove is in the heart (1990)



40. Wild Cherry - Play that funky music (1976)





41. Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians - What I Am (1989)



42. Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting (1974)



43. Gary Numan - Cars (1979)



44. Gerardo - Rico Suave (1991)



45. Toni Basil - Mickey (1982)



46. The Weather Girls - It's Raining Men (1979)



47. Afroman - Because I Got High (2001)



48. Wheatus - Teenage Dirtbag (2000)



49. L. A. Guns - The Ballad of Jayne (1989)



50. Cornershop - Brimful of Asha (1998)

Dearly beloved. We gather here today to mourn the demise of the sport utility vehicle, or "SUV" as its friends liked to call it.

The gas-guzzler lived a full life, driving in the fast lane from the 1990s to the mid-2000s. Alas, it fell ill a few years ago and never recovered. And really, we can't say the death came as a surprise. For years, folks complained about the environmental impact of low-mileage vehicles. Over time, those voices grew louder, but still the SUV fought on, proudly taking up two parking spaces and scaring hybrids from its lane.

But then, gas prices soared and the SUV's vital signs plummeted. As much as people love large cars, the costs to keep fuel in the tank proved too much to take. As the New York Times reported, it now costs $100k to own and keep a similarly inefficient full size pickup running for five years. And so people pulled the plug on their trucks and SUVs, taking the beleaguered vehicles off life support and into the museum of dead car fads.

Walt Disney Co CEO Robert Iger said Wednesday that "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" is underperforming at the box office because of competition from "Iron Man" and "Indiana Jones."

Since its May 16 release, the "Narnia" sequel has earned $99.6 million in North America, according to Box Office Mojo. Its 2005 predecessor, "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," had earned $122.7 million in the same period. It went on to make date $291.7 million.

Disney originally had "Caspian" set for last Christmas, but delayed it in deference to "The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep," a fantasy vying for the same audience.

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The studio might also have been taking into account the feelings of Walden Media, its production partner on "Narnia" and the production company behind "Water Horse." That film, distributed by Sony, earned just $40 million domestically.

Iger, speaking at the Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference in New York, said "Prince Caspian" is a better movie than the first installment but because it was released between a couple of the year's biggest hits, audiences are overlooking it.

"Prince Caspian" was released less than two weeks after "Iron Man" and just six days before "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." Both those pictures are headed into the $300 million area.

Iger lamented the "very delicate, very fragile marketplace" for movies in general, given that "there's just too much out there." As of now, the next movie in the "Narnia" series is set for release May 7, 2010.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

SHIPPAGAN, New Brunswick (AP)—Luc Bourdon, a promising rookie defenseman with the Vancouver Canucks, was killed Thursday when his motorcycle struck a tractor-trailer in a crash near his hometown. He was 21.

His death was confirmed by sister Eve Bourdon and stepmother Maryse Godin. Both declined further comment when reached at the family’s home in Shippagan.

Police wouldn’t confirm the identity of the victim but said a motorcyclist was killed in the early afternoon on a road between Shippagan and Lameque.

“Luc was an extremely talented player with a bright future,” Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said in a statement. “He brought great passion to the game and was a valued team member on and off the ice.”

Bourdon’s agent, Kent Hughes, called his client a winner and a competitor.

“There was no quit in him,” said Hughes, who knew Bourdon since the player was 15. “He persevered through a lot. He was a great guy and a great teammate.”

Bourdon was the first-round draft pick of the Canucks in 2005, selected 10th overall. He split time this season with the Canucks and the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League. In 27 games with the Canucks, he scored twice and had no assists.

“Through hard work and perseverance, Luc was able to realize his dream of becoming an NHL player,” Paul Kelly, executive director of the players’ union. “Luc had a promising life and career ahead of him and he will certainly be missed.”

Bourdon played on the Canadian team that won the gold medal at the 2007 world junior hockey championship in Vancouver and made the tournament’s all-star team. He helped Canada win another gold at the 2007 tournament in Sweden.

Bourdon played for Val d’Or, Moncton and Cape Breton of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League before turning pro.

Grapevine High School senior Anjali Datta holds the highest grade-point average of the 471 students graduating from Grapevine High School this year.

In fact, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD officials believe her GPA of 5.898 may be the highest in the high school's history.

It's still not enough to make her the valedictorian, which brings a one-year college scholarship from the state.

Her closest competitor's GPA is 5.64. No one disputes that she's the top student in her class numerically. The problem rests with another number entirely.

Anjali rocketed through high school in only three years.

But a school district policy states: "The valedictorian shall be the eligible student with the highest weighted grade-point average for four years of high school."

The dispute over Anjali's status as valedictorian comes down to interpretation: Does four years mean calendar years of school attendance or does it mean completing the credits it takes most students four years to earn?

It depends on whom you ask.

The 16-year-old started taking high school classes in middle school and says her teachers encouraged her to graduate a year early because she had more than enough credits for graduation.

She said a counselor assured her that doing so wouldn't affect her valedictorian status because she earned her four years of high school credit in the district's schools. Officials had no comment about what a counselor may have said.

The policy was created to protect students from others who might transfer into the district close to graduation and usurp the class ranking of longtime students.

Though that's not the situation in this case, the district's attorneys interpreted the policy literally.

So at graduation ceremonies, 18-year-old Tyler Scott Franklin of Colleyville will be the Grapevine High School valedictorian.

Anjali will be "Valedictorian – Three-Year."

District officials said the title was created for this situation.

"We're doing what we can to extend an additional honor within accordance of school board policy," said Megan Overman, a district spokeswoman. "I'm not going to say that this has been an easy situation. This is something that is new for all of us. We've not faced this situation before."

Ms. Overman said the district researched the decision for months.

"There was a lot of thought involved in this. There is no perfect answer," she said.

Anjali says she and her parents are baffled.

"I have not heard of any educational institution penalizing a student for excellence – for completing a demanding set of classes 'too quickly,' " said her father, Deepak Datta. "Anjali's experience will surely send a strong negative signal to other talented students trying to excel.

"They will most certainly be discouraged from trying to do their best – instead will be more focused on gaming the system."

On Tuesday, Grapevine High School principal Jerry Hollingsworth notified the family via e-mail of the district's position that would arrive this week by certified letter.

"The determination of valedictory honor is one that rests squarely on Grapevine-Colleyville ISD board policy," Dr. Hollingsworth wrote. "In determining an appropriate interpretation of our policy, inquiries were made to both the school district's attorney as well as an attorney at the Texas Association of School Boards.

"Both were clear in their opinions that this honor should go to a student who has four school years in his or her high school career. We are compelled to adhere to school board policy," he wrote.

So, Tyler will receive the college scholarship.

His mother, Kathy, said her family didn't raise the issue with the school district. She said someone brought the district policy to her family's attention.

"We feel obviously that the other student deserves recognition as well," she said. "Considering all of the different factors, this was a good solution."

Anjali says she's struggling to understand the move because the Texas Education Agency doesn't even mention the word "valedictorian" when defining eligibility for the college scholarship.

The state provides Texas high schools with an "Honor Graduate Certificate." The certificate is to be presented to the "highest ranking graduate" in the senior class, according to Texas Education Code.

State officials say it is the local school district's responsibility to determine the highest ranking student, and the state has no authority to get involved. At graduation June 7, Anjali will be honored for her perfect ACT score. She will be acknowledged as an honor graduate and allowed to address her classmates.

But Anjali said it still doesn't feel quite right.

"This really diminishes the value of the valedictorian title," she said.

Like any red-blooded American teenager, John Tyler Hammons digs rock music, fast cars, video games and...fiscal planning?

Apparently so. The AP reports that the University of Oklahoma freshman trounced 70 year-old Hershel McBride to become the mayor of Muskogee, Oklahoma, making it the first city in the nation to be governed by a self-admitted gamer.

But while he could own any of his peers at Halo 3, the fresh-faced leader is turning his sights on cleaning up the town's politics by establishing an independent ethics commission and locking down campaign finance reporting.

"I'm sure the (city) council will work with me on these issues," he said. "I campaigned on this, and this is something I intend to push."

Tired of the same old political shenanigans, the townsfolk are backing their new man.

"He doesn't have the baggage. He doesn't owe anybody anything," said cafe owner Gary Armstrong. "It's sort of a fresh start for Muskogee."

Best known as the subject of country legend Merle Haggard's 1969 hit "Okie from Muskogee," the unassuming city of 38,000 is considered the archetype of virtuous, small town America, a "place where even squares can have a ball."

And now, so can gamers.

BEIJING (AP)—NBA playoff games have mysteriously disappeared from Chinese television.

Entertainment programs on Chinese television were suspended last week during a three-day period of mourning for victims of the deadly Sichuan earthquake, including NBA playoff games.

When the mourning period ended, the NBA playoffs returned as the state-run national broadcaster CCTV showed the Western Conference final between the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs. However, subsequent games have not been shown.

“We have followed orders and stopped the NBA broadcast,” Jiang Heping, director for CCTV’s sport channel, said in Wednesday editions of the Shanghai-based Oriental Sports Daily. “Since the May 12 earthquake, we’re careful about the way we broadcast the NBA and the content must match the whole atmosphere.”

However, concerns about sports programming following the earthquake did not prevent CCTV’s sports channel from showing women’s soccer and highlights of track, women’s basketball and French Open tennis.

The NBA’s office in China offered only a brief statement from NBA China’s chief executive officer Tim Chen.

“We are working closely with CCTV to ensure that NBA games and content are appropriate for China and to begin broadcasting as soon as possible,” Chen said.

Michael Bass, NBA senior vice president of marketing communication, said Wednesday the NBA has not been given any indication that games were pulled for any political reason.

“Our programming has been pre-empted in consideration of the tenor in China following the Sichuan earthquake,” Bass said.

NBA basketball is popular in China, although interest has dropped off without the top two Chinese players—Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian—in the playoffs. The injured Yao plays for the Houston Rockets and Yi plays for the Milwaukee Bucks.

WHAT THE FUCK!

Learning Animals

New tax

10.By 3000 BC, the Sumerians had developed into the earliest civilization of Mesopotamia. The societies were organized into city-states, which warred constantly over the control of water. Two of these, Lagash and Umma, sat 18 miles apart and feuded for generations over the fertile region known as Gu'edena. In 2525, King Eannatum of Lagash defeated Umma using armored soldiers in phalanx formations, and also chariots pulled by onagers (wild asses), an invention frequently credited to the Sumerians. How do we know of this battle? It was recorded by the king on a stone monument, "the Stele of the Vultures."

9.Sargon of Akkad may have been the world's first empire-builder. Legend states that he was found floating in a basket and brought up by a gardener. Later it is known he became a cupbearer to King Ur-Zazaba of Kish in Sumer. Sargon rose from obscurity to overthrow Lugalzaggisi of Uruk, famously forcing the defeated ruler into a yoke and leading him to the gate of Enlil, a god, at Nippur. Sargon also attacked 34 Sumerian cities. In the process, he tore down the walls of the vanquished, imprisoned 50 ensis (city-state rulers), and "cleaned his weapons in the sea" (Persian Gulf). Thus the Akkadian empire rose and the Mesopotamian military tradition was born.

8.Assyria developed around the city of Ashur on the upper Tigris, weaker than other states appearing after Hammurabi's dynasty, including the Kassites and the Hurrians/Mitanni. Assyria was long ruled by the Mitanni, but regained autonomy during the Middle Assyrian Empire. In his second year of rule, Shalmaneser I attacked the breakaway state of Uruatru in southern Armenia. Shattuara II of Hanigalbat, leading the rebellion with the aid of the Hittites, blockaded the mountain passes and waterholes. With a desperation born of thirst, the Assyrians pounded the Mitanni kingdom into submission. Afterwards, Shalmaneser claimed to have blinded 14,400 men, a nasty bit of psychological warfare. His inscriptions mention the utter devastation of nine fortified temples, 180 Hurrian cities, and the Hittite and Ahlamu armies. Obviously, the Assyrians were not well-liked.

7.In 334 BC, Alexander III ("The Great") crossed the Hellespont (Dardanelles) with 7000 cavalrymen and over 30,000 infantrymen. During this expedition, Alexander defeated the king, Darius III, at the Battle of Issus. Darius retreated to the Plain of Gaugamela, near Arbela (Irbil). There he massed a enormous army and ordered the plain cleared for his scythed chariots and war elephants. Darius' army stood in a massive line. Alexander's outnumbered Macedonian forces attempted to draw the Persians away from the prepared ground. In countering, the Persian cavalry opened gaps in their own line, into which Alexander led his personal cavalry. The Persian chariots charged the Macedonians, which yielded and then decimated their drivers with projectiles. Alexander's elite cavalry turned and attacked from the rear. When Darius saw his troops in disarray, he fled, prompting a full retreat. Alexander had ended the Persian empire founded by Cyrus II.

6.Marcus Licinius Crassus became governor of Syria in 55 BC. A triumvir with Pompey and Julius Caesar, he sought to increase his reputation by invading Parthian Mesopotamia. With seven legions, about 44,000 men, he crossed the Euphrates. However, he strayed from the river into the open desert. Near Carrhae (Harran), the Parthians approached with 10,000 mounted archers. The Romans held a theoretical advantage, but lacked desert warfare experience (fighting at midday in June?), and staggered before the Parthian arrows, fired from compound bows. Also, the Parthian commander, General Suren, had thoughtfully brought 1000 camels to re-supply his archers with arrows. Surrounding the Romans, the Parthians turned the battle into dusty target practice. Only 10,000 Gauls were reported to survive. In attempting to surrender, Crassus was killed. Roman prestige plunged in the east.

5.The Persian Sasanians ruled Mesopotamia from 224 AD. They thrived for centuries, but eventually became distracted by fighting the Romans and amongst themselves. Ultimately, an unlikely outside force would topple them. The Arabs had been tribesmen, unorganized and militarily primitive. The new religion of Islam, founded by Muhammad, united the tribes. In 634, the Arab campaign against the Sassanians began. 18,000 Arab tribesmen, led by General Khalid ibn al Walid ("The Sword of Islam") reached the Euphrates delta and began battling the Iranians (Persians), who were rallied by their hero, Rustam. A decisive battle occurred at Al-Qidisiyah, a village south of Baghdad. Though outnumbered six to one, the Arabs defeated the Iranians, exhausted by many battles against the Byzantines. Rustam was killed. The Arabs shortly captured the Sassanid capital at Ctesiphon, ending their dynasty and introducing Islam to the region.

4.Mesopotamia had become known as "Iraq," the center of a large Muslim caliphate. The Abbasid ruling family established a new capital at Baghdad, which prospered. Early in the 13th Century AD, the Mongol leader, Temujin, organized the Mongol tribes into a marauding army over 700,000 strong, and began conquests of China, Persia, and Eastern Europe. He renamed himself Chinggis (Genghis) Khan ("World Conquerer"). A generation later, his grandson, Hulagu, was dispatched to capture the remainder of southwest Asia. In 1258, Hulagu besieged Baghdad, then sacked most of it, slaughtering as many as 800,000 of the inhabitants. He killed the scholars, erecting a pyramid of their skulls, and executed the caliph, al-Musta'sim, the 37th and final Abbisid ruler of a line that had lasted 500 years. Iraq was reduced to tribal culture, never to regain world prominence.

3.In the early 1500's, the Ottomans began their rise to power as the next great Islamic state. The first ruler was Sultan Selim I ("The Grim"). His victory in 1514 at the Battle of Chaldiran over the Safavids of Iran paved the way for Ottoman expansion into northern Iraq, as the Safavids had conquered Iraq in 1509. Son of Selim, Suleyman I ("the Magnificent") succeeded to the throne in 1520, and by 1522 turned his attention to the Safavids, first negotiating a truce with Archduke Ferdinand of Hungary, leaving himself free to wage the first of three major campaigns against Persia. In 1534, he took the cities of Baghdad and most of Iraq from the Persians, an enormous success, leading to almost four centuries of Ottoman rule in Iraq.

2.In World War I, England realized it must protect its Iraqi oil production interests against the German-Turkish alliance. In 1914, British forces began the Mesopotamian campaign at Al Faw. After several easy victories, an attempt on Baghdad was launched. However, the Anglo-Indian forces, commanded by Sir Charles Townshend, were undermanned and their supplies overstretched. In November, 1915, the British approached the ruins of Ctesiphon, on the Tigris 20 miles SE of modern Baghdad. The Turks, under Nur-ud-Din, had positioned about 18,000 experienced men in two trenches on either side of the river. The better-prepared Turks fended off the British, who dragged themselves back to occupied Kut-al-Amara. The Turks besieged the city for 143 days, ultimately forcing a British surrender. 10,000 men went into brutal captivity. The following year, the British finally took Baghdad, but the Siege of Kut-al-Amara was the army's greatest military defeat.

1.Saddam Hussein's presidency of Iraq included a failed invasion of Kuwait in 1990 that precipitated the Persian Gulf War. Following the war, US officials suspected Iraq of cease-fire violations, including the production of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). In dealing with United Nation arms inspectors, Hussein proved intractable for more than 12 years. On March 20, 2003, a combined military force consisting of 300,000 primarily US and British troops entered Iraq through Kuwait. The reported pretext for the invasion was to locate and destroy chemical, nuclear, and biological WMDs, and depose Hussein. To date, no WMDs have been found. Baghdad fell on April 9, 2003. President George W. Bush declared the end of major combat operations on May 1, however, coalition forces remain to stabilize the country, experiencing frequent insurgent attacks. Hussein was eventually captured near his home town of Tikrit. Coalition fighters continue to encounter fierce resistance. By March 11, 2008, more than 4300 American and coalition troops had died in Iraq with the civilian casualties estimated at about 90,000.

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