The Islamic world stretches from the west coast of North Africa across the Middle East to Afghanistan and Pakistan to the island nations of Malaysia and Indonesia in Southeast Asia. Democracy has gained a tenuous foothold in the latter two countries, but authoritarian governments—secular, monarchical, and religious—rule in much of the rest of the Muslim world. While the vast majority of Muslims are peaceful, the small percentage that adhere to radical Islamic fundamentalism have caused significant disruption both in their own countries and abroad. This site focuses on Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. Iraq’s recent history and current situation illustrate many of the problems that beset Arab Muslim countries.