Iraq: for many Iraqi teens, life has gotten better since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime. But danger and uncertainty linger.

Yasemin Ehsan, 16, is happy that U.S.-led forces drove Saddam Hussein from power last spring. Yasemins family suffered greatly under Hussein's dictatorship. Two of her mother's cousins were murdered, and her grandfather was forbidden to leave Baghdad, Iraq's capital.

Yasemin's mother is a member of the Shiite branch of Islam--the largest worldwide. Saddam Hussein and most members of his Baathist Party government were from the second-largest division, the Sunni. Historically, there has been much conflict between the two branches. Under Hussein, Shiites were killed and imprisoned by the thousands.

Yasemin's father is Sunni, but he is also Kurdish. Hussein's government brutally repressed the Kurds, a non-Arab ethnic group, killing more than 200,000 people in recent decades.

Though Yasemin and her family despised the dictator, every Iraqi student had to pledge allegiance to Hussein. When Yasemin, a high school junior, and her classmates neglected to memorize their patriotism lesson, the Baathist principal forced them to stand in the hot sun for 40 minutes. The principal once slapped Yasemin for not participating in Saddam's birthday celebration.

"I like school now," Yasemin says. "The principal still works in the school, but she doesn't come out of the office much."

Feeling Unsafe

Yasemin lives in a modest one-story house in a middle-class area of Baghdad. The wide streets and palm trees resemble suburban Los Angeles. But shortages of water, gasoline, and electricity have transformed the normally quiet neighborhood. People are afraid to go out after dark because looters and other criminals rule the streets.

Yasemin's father, a high school teacher, drives her and her sister, Fatin, 20, to school each day. He is afraid the girls will be kidnapped.

Despite such concerns, Yasemin believes that U.S. officials will help make Iraq a better country. But, she adds, Iraqis must be able to determine their own future.

"We should have freedom and democracy without anybody forcing us to do anything we don't want to do," she says.

Yasemin wants the same opportunities that teens in the U.S. have, including Internet access, cell phones, and a good education. Each afternoon she studies for four hours. Sometimes she plays soccer or practices on the keyboard in her room.

Like most teens, Yasemin argues with her parents. She says they make her study too much. Yasemin is more interested in American pop culture. Her favorite movie is Britney Spears's Crossroads. Recently her aunt in London sent her a brush with Spears's name inscribed on it.

"I want Britney Spears to know that there's a girl in Iraq who really loves her and wants to meet her," she says.

Fear and Anger

Not all Iraqi teens are as fortunate as Yasemin. In the poorer neighborhoods, some teens have had to drop out of school to help support their families.

Many people lost their jobs and homes during the war. They are angry at the U.S. for bombing Iraq. Rafid Qalib, 16, says that his father, a military officer, became jobless after Hussein's government was toppled.

"I have no reason to be happy right now," Rafid says, "even though it's good that Saddam Hussein is gone. We need security on our streets. I don't feel safe."

Rafid attends a school for gifted boys. The students sit on worn-out wooden benches and chairs in crammed classrooms. Their textbooks are tattered and torn. Since the school has no electricity, they sweat in the 100[degrees] heat.

Many students do not come to class now because of safety concerns. Even teachers are afraid. They receive $20 a month from the U.S. government, but many stay home. As a result, students' learning time has been shortened by two hours each day.

Ahmed Walid, 14, says that one subject he does not miss is patriotism. "It was all about wars and how Saddam Hussein's the greatest," he explains.

"The lessons were full of propaganda [biased ideas that support a cause]," says Mohammed Fadil, 14. "I don't remember anything from that subject anymore."

After the war, the boys playfully drew beards on photos of Saddam in their textbooks. Still, many in this war-scarred country wonder if things will get better soon. Without jobs and basic services, Iraqis find themselves resenting the forces that have been sent to help them.

Ready to Go Home

Just like Iraqi citizens, U.S. troops here face many dangers. In Baghdad, members of the U.S. Army patrol the streets in armored Humvees (light trucks), M-16 rifles at their side. Many Iraqis welcome them by saying hello and shaking their hands. But in some neighborhoods, the troops have met hostility and violence. Armed Iraqis continue to kill U.S. and British soldiers almost every day.

The situation has become extremely complex for the soldiers who were trained to fight a war--not keep the peace. Often they don't know whom to trust in a crowd of citizens, where a deadly enemy could be lurking. And they don't always know how to help people whose problems stem from the U.S.-led war.

Demetrias Soutsos, 23, is in the U.S. Army's Third Infantry Division. Some people mistake his Mediterranean features for Middle Eastern and ask if he's Iraqi. Children tease him and call him by an Iraqi nickname. Some even throw rocks at him and other soldiers.

Demetrias says he is ready to go home. He has had some frightening experiences lately. A sniper recently shot at his compound with an AK-47 rifle. "I'm trying to get away from danger," he says.

The Colorado native is eager to return to college to finish his studies. Yasemin, for her part, dreams of living in an Iraq that is democratic and free. But the road to peace is likely to be much longer than the road to Baghdad.

Religion and Ethnicity in Iraq

Ethnicity

Arab      79%
Turkmen    2%
Persian    3%
Kurdish   16%

Religion

Shiite Muslim                 62%
Other (including Christian)    5%
Sunni Muslim                  33%

Note: Table made from pie chart.

Your Turn: THINK ABOUT IT

What role should the U.S. play in postwar Iraq?

IRAQ

Iraq is an Arab nation located on the Persian Gulf in southwest Asia. U.S. and allied forces invaded Iraq in March 2003, ending more than 23 years of dictatorial rule by Saddam Hussein. A temporary U.S.-led government now rules the country.

FACTS TO KNOW

AREA: 169,236 square miles, slightly larger than California.

POPULATION: 23,600,000; 68% urban; 32% rural. Arabs make up 75% of the population; Kurds, 20%; and others, 5%.

GOVERNMENT: A temporary authority headed by U.S. Ambassador Paul Bremer now governs the country. An interim government will be formed in the future, representing a transition to Iraqi self-rule.

ECONOMY: Iraq's economy has suffered from a series of wars, but it should improve now that Iraq is again selling its oil on the world market.

RELIGION: Muslim, 95%; Christians and others, 5%.

LANGUAGE: Arabic. The Kurdish language is spoken in Kurdish areas.

LITERACY: Males, 71%; females, 45%.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Males, 56 years; females, 59 years.

QUESTIONS

1. What is the capital of Iraq?--

2. What river flows through Iraq's capital?--

3. What country borders Iraq to the east?--

4. What type of government now rules Iraq?--

5. What is the distance in miles from Baghdad to Jerusalem?--

6. What is located at Babylon?--

7. Shatt al Arab is a waterway leading to what large body of water?--

8. Kurdistan is not a country, but a region that extends over parts of what countries?--

9. Which of the countries bordering Iraq is smallest in area?--

10. Which countries bordering Iraq are not Arab countries?--

OBJECTIVES

Students should understand:

* Iraq is struggling to rebuild after the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, and many Iraqi teens are anxious about the future.

TEACHING STRATEGY

Ask students what they know about life in Iraq today. Now ask them the following questions: "Who should lead Iraq, and what kind of government should the country have? What should the U.S. do to maintain peace and order in Iraq?"

BACKGROUND

President Bush is planning to ask Congress to increase funding for U.S. forces in Iraq, which currently stands at about $3 billion a month. Meanwhile, many Iraqis do not have basic necessities, such as clean water or electricity. Iraqi schools do not have enough teachers and most have inadequate supplies. Teachers have had to rely on old textbooks that are filled with propaganda praising Saddam Hussein.

THINKING SKILLS

COMPREHENSION: How has the U.S.-led war against Saddam Hussein's regime affected life in Iraq? (Some Iraqis now enjoy greater personal freedoms and opportunities. But the war also destroyed the nation's infrastructure and economy. Looting, lawlessness, and violence have become common.)

MAKING CONNECTIONS: What are some of the difficulties facing U.S. troops in Iraq? (Despite an end to the heavy fighting, U.S. troops still face attacks from Iraqis loyal to Saddam Hussein. Trained for war, U.S. troops are also struggling to adjust to peacekeeping duties.)

ACTIVITY

IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN: Tell students that U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan are charged with peacekeeping duties as both nations rebuild after the destruction of war. Ask students to compare the efforts in these countries. What challenges are unique to each country? Are there similarities between the missions?

STANDARDS

SOCIAL STUDIES, GRADES 5-8

* Power, authority, and governance: How most Iraqis are happy about the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, but many also resent the presence of U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq.

* People, places, and environment: How many different Iraqi groups must unite to help rebuild their nation and create a government.

RESOURCES

PRINT

* Balcavage, Dynise, Iraq (Gareth Stevens, 2003). Grades 6 and up.

* Hourani, Albert, A History of the Arab Peoples (Warner Books, 1992). Grades 7-8.

WEB SITES

* Iraq

www.nationalgeographic.com/ iraq/

* United Way/Iraq Reconstruction Fund

www.uwint.org/news/ iraqfund.html

QUICK QUIZ

Select the letter of the word or phrase that best completes each sentence.

--6. Last May, a U.S.-led military coalition removed Iraqi President--from power.

A. Tariq Aziz

B. Saddam Hussein

C. Kofi Annan

--7. More than 90 percent of the Iraqi people are--.

A. Buddhists

B. Christians

C. Muslims

--8. Hundreds of thousands of--, one of the largest minority groups in Iraq, were killed during Saddam Hussein's rule.

A. Kurds

B. Persians

C. Christians

--9. Since the end of the war, many Iraqis--.

A. have not had adequate supplies of electricity, gasoline, and water

B. have been afraid to go out at night due to looting and violence

C. Both A and B

--10. Many U.S. soldiers in Iraq--.

A. are happy to act as peacekeepers in this unstable land

B. face dangers and uncertainty, and want to return home

C. can easily spot and disarm potentially dangerous Iraqi civilians

ANSWERS

World map questions

1. Baghdad

2. The Tigris

3. Iran

4. A temporary authority headed by U.S. Ambassador Paul Bremer

5. Almost 500 miles

6. Ancient ruins

7. The Persian Gulf

8. Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey

9. Kuwait

10. Iran and Turkey

Quick Quiz

6. B

7. C

8. A

9. C

10. B