^Saddam the bastard deliberatly led all the water out of the marshes in the south starving the already strugling people and forcing them into he cities where there weren't exactly welcome
The water is being led back now, but it's a carefur process as some tribes have moved into the former waterbed areas, making it very dangerous to just open up everything... however the transfomation is stunning, from 2003 when I first arrived in the country to 2005 when I left after my second tour the hole Basra area had turn green and lush and in time all the old marches should come back bring wildlife and food with it..
Today the city
Nice in Southern France
( yes that's it's name and a very fitting one 
)
