Ba'qubah, Iraq

Capital City

With a population of 467,900, Ba'qubah is no idyllic respite from the chaos of Iraq. Decades of conflict have left the city battered, with insurgents and sectarian violence still posing a persistent threat. The bureaucracy is a headache, as evidenced by the controversy over buildings and landmarks named after Saddam Hussein's regime. And the climate is unforgiving, with searing summers and meager rainfall. Ba'qubah is hardly the peaceful oasis some might imagine - this is a city still grappling with the legacy of war.