IRBIL, Iraqi Kurdistan — The tune of “Jingle Bells” blasted through the speakers of an old car in the center of downtown Irbil. It was a parody version of the famous English Christmas song with Kurdish lyrics laid over the track. “Santa, how come you didn’t bring us presents this year?” Santa’s reply: “I haven’t received my salary from the government in four months.” The radio station played two more songs, all making light of the government’s economic struggles.
