Chapter 2 presents a snapshot of the country in which the Kuwaiti detainees were raised, lived, and worked. It is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, with vast hydrocarbon wealth. Unlike many countries in the region, it is not a complete autocracy; its hereditary Emir rules, but there are certain checks and balances, unlike many other countries in the region. It is a quiet, hardworking, family-oriented place, with generous social benefits and a highly educated urbanized population. The country’s history is defined by two great inflection points: Saddam Hussein’s brutal invasion, with the subsequent liberation led by the United States; and 9/11 and its aftermath, where Kuwait and Arab countries generally were caught up in the Global War on Terror. Because Kuwait owes its very existence to the United States, it is highly pro-American and the thought that young Kuwaitis were supporting terrorism against the United States was both hard to believe and profoundly troubling. The Family Committee and the Core Team were on their own until, some time later, the emir indicated that he would be supportive if it could be demonstrated that these men were wrongly detained.