- Ayatollah: the title given to a learned Shiite legal expert
- client state: dependent on the support of a stronger power
- cyclones: fierce circular windstorms
- debt service: paying interst on loans
- deforestation: destruction of forest land
- delta: the triangular area of marshland at the mouth of the river
- desalinization: process of converting saltry sea water into fresh water
- federal system: powers are divided between a strong central government and smaller local governmetn
- harijana: member of the untouchable class
- hejab: the muslim practice of a woman completely covering herself up
- intifada: an uprising of young Palestinians against Israeli occupation
- kibbutz: collective farms
- militia: bands of citizen soldiers
- no-fly zone: UN designated areas over which Iraqi Aircrafts were not powermited to fly
- partition: divide
- recognize: to formally agree to treat a country as a legitimate government
- theocracy: a government ruled by religious leaders
- unilateral: one-sided