This publication is now archived. Who is the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani?He is the most important Shiite cleric in Iraq, where the population is about 60 percent Shiite. The reclusive, Iranian-bor…

This publication is now archived. What is the Iraqi National Conference?It is a gathering of some 1,100 prominent Iraqis under way in Baghdad. Its main purpose is to select the members of a 100-seat …

This publication is now archived. Does the new U.N. resolution resolve questions about Iraq’s status?To an extent. Resolution 1546, passed unanimously by the U.N. Security Council June 8, declares th…

This publication is now archived. How much has the war in Iraq cost?Congress has so far appropriated about $123 billion for the war in Iraq in addition to the military’s standard operating expenses c…

This publication is now archived. Who are the new Iraqi leaders?The members of the Iraqi Interim Government (IIG) were appointed June 1 by U.N. Special Envoy Lakhdar Brahimi. They were selected after…