Cl is too much to handle?

I'm taking this government cl at college right now and it's really frustrating for me. All day we discuss about wars in Iraq, the purpose of 9/11, and the atrocities in Kuwait. I just feel really bad b/c I don't know anything about what they are talking about! I don't know about any wars or why the government is bad or anything. I feel so left out. Are there any book suggestions that will help me know more about the wars especially in the Middle East? Anything about the Taliban and the Geneva thing is good too.