Innehåll: The prodigal republic (Mr. Talabani goes to Washington) -- The stolen sheath -- Betrayal and holocaust -- Shame and comfort -- Burning down the house -- Waiting for Dubya -- A most convenient foe -- The northern front -- No friends but the Kurds -- Deeds to the promised land -- The believers -- The feast of the sacrifice -- Securing the realm -- Something that does not love a wall -- Visible nation -- Key events in Kurdish Iraqi history