[HIGHLIGHTS] The Iraqi Baath Party... was born with Arab nationalism and was overthrown by the American invasion

The Iraqi Baath Party was born with Arab nationalism and was overthrown by the American invasion. It was initially founded in Syria in April 1947 by thinker and politician Michel Aflaq.

It adopted three principles, which are unity, freedom, and socialism, and three goals. The party's philosopher, Ibrahim Khallas, said, "The only way to build Arab society is to build an Arab society" It called for the separation of Arabism from Islam, and separation of religion from politics.