Host Jennifer Ludden discusses today's elections in Iraq with Phebe Marr, author of The Modern History of Iraq, and retired U.S. Army Gen. William Nash, now with the Council on Foreign Relations ...

Here are five books that explain the country’s origins and its recent history. The Corpse Washer. By Sinan Antoon. Yale University Press; 200 pages; $13.95 and £10.99 ...