IRAQ: Iraq's Reprieve

Since early 2008, Iraq's security situation has improved with oil production is increasing, record government surplus and easing sectarian tensions.

The major shift in Iraq's security is often attributed to the SOIs, also known as the "Sahwa" (Tribal Awakening), after tens of thousands of Sunnis unexpectedly turned against Al Qaeda, when Sunni leaders aligned themselves with coalition forces after being threatened by the Islamic extremists.

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Since early 2008, Iraq's security situation has improved with oil production is increasing, record government surplus and easing sectarian tensions.

The major shift in Iraq's security is often attributed to the SOIs, also known as the "Sahwa" (Tribal Awakening), after tens of thousands of Sunnis unexpectedly turned against Al Qaeda, when Sunni leaders aligned themselves with coalition forces after being threatened by the Islamic extremists.

From its inception two years ago in al Anbar, western Iraq, there are now more than 90,000 "Son's of Iraq" - a force of untrained, armed, minimally employed, young Sunni men, which until October 2008, had been funded by the United States and is now paid by the Iraqi government.

Iraq forces have also begun exerting their control throughout the country, allowing US forces to take a less active roll and decrease the number of "kinetic" operations. When British forces withdrew from Basra in 2007, the city deteriorated into street battles between numerous Shiite militias and criminal gangs. In April 2008, Iraqi prime minister, Nouri al Maliki, sent two Iraqi army divisions to retake control of Basra.

Iraqi officials also declared Mosul the last urban stronghold of Al Qaeda in Iraq. In early 2008, Mosul was the communication and supply hub for Al Qaeda and other insurgent groups from the Syrian border to central Iraq before US and Iraqi forces pushed them into the rural, desert areas where they are believed to be regrouping in the western Jazeera desert.

The following feature was shot over the course of 1 month during the summer of 2008 in Iraq.
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