[Tax-chick]

functioning municipal government in the south, booming tourism in the north, normality and progress in three-quarters of the country

Good! The kids have been nagging to see the ruins of Nineveh and Babylon. (What I get for reading them the Bible, blast it!)

[Constitution Day]

I've always wanted to see them too.
I grew up reading about them in the Bible, but took some ancient history courses and was even more interested.

A book behind me on my bookshelf right now is Ancient Iraq by Georges Roux.
I highly recommend it!