The answer to the crossword is Iraq, which is a country located in the Middle East. It is bordered by Iran to the east, Kuwait to the southeast, Saudi Arabia to the south, Jordan to the southwest, Syria to the west, and Turkey to the north. Iraq has a long history, having been part of the ancient Mesopotamian civilization, and was also part of the Ottoman Empire until the early 20th century. Today, Iraq is a federal parliamentary republic, with a population of over 40 million people.