Iraq part 1 Ballot papers and insurgency The first elections after the fall of Saddam Hussein by Damian Bird A voter is frisked before being allowed inside a polling station to vote to make sure he is neither a suicide bomber or carrying any weapons. Iraqi fixers/guides for the US forces are well paid and well looked after by their employers. However if they do not wear masks at work they stand the risk of being followed home and murdered along with their families by insurgents. Flying low over Baghdad in a Black Hawk helicopter, with a female gunner in the window scanning the ground for attack. In the background we can see one of Saddam Hussein’s most elaborate building projects unfinished and facing a doubtful future. The sewers of Baghdad’s suburbs are often overflowing which leads to foul smelling lakes of untreated sewage festering in the streets. A real health risk. When circumstance leaves you homeless and you do not have money or the access to building materials you build with whatever you can find. In this instance we can see a house for several families built out of disguarded empty oil cans and mud for mortar. Man and wife proudly showing of their permanent ink stained fingers which shows they have voted once and means that they will not be able to vote again. Iraqi informant works here to give inside infomation about suspected insurgent plans. The masked man is an Iraqi interpreter and keeps his identity hidden to protect himself and his family from insurgent aggression.  US army sniper shows off just how invisible he can become with the aid of his ‘ghillie suit’. This US army sniper operates largely at night to “neutralize insurgents”. Moctada al-Sadr, the leader who became famous for trying to force US forces out of Iraq with acts of military aggression. The significance of the masked figure in the background, holding an RPG (rocket propelled granade) is that this was the weapon of choice of his army. US First Cavalry soldier stands proudly in front of four Abrams battle tanks. These 70 ton tanks, with their helicoptor engines move with the speed and agility of a car. The yellow sky and tint to this photograph were cause by a sand storm nearby. The back streets of Baghdad often have sewers very close to the surface and when 20 ton armoured vehicles travel over them they tend to collapse and trap the vehicle concerned until a caterpillar tracked tow vehicle arrives to pull them out. An irate Iraqi demands that US forces listen to his problems and help him. US forces in Baghdad operate “hearts and minds” operation by giving out food to the poor. Iraqi lady voter with her baby in arms. Iraqi women queuing for food that is being handed out by the US forces as part of their “hearts and minds” operation. V for victory symbol being pulled by a jubulant voter on his way to vote. Indelible ink on the fingers of Iraqi voters, proud to have made their first vote ever. Obviously the ink prevents them from being able to vote twice. Three suspected insurgents can be seen here on polling day awaiting interrogation. Lady voter placing her ballot paper in one of the many polling stations in Baghdad. Insurgent who tried to blow up a polling station is lead away by Iraqi police. Proud voter, shows off his indelible ink stained finger. Iraqi children playing in the street on election day. The water reflecting their image is sewage that has overflowed from one of Baghdad’s overworked and undermaintained sewers. US forces throwing sweets to Iraqi children.  A “hearts and minds” operation. More proud voters showing off their indelibly ink stained fingers. Two Iraqi couples voting. It is notable that not one single US soldier entered an Iraqi polling station on election day. Well armed Iraqi boy protects his mother. Letter written as part of a school project by US school girl to US soldiers on active duty in Iraq. Photograph taken down the night vision sights of a Bradley Fighting Vehicle (light weight tank) whilst on patrol at night in the back streets of Baghdad. Insurgents regularlyattack with rocket propelled granades and then the Bradley Fighting Vehicle’s gunner fires back with a 50 cal. machine gun. Iraqi informant speaks through masked Iraqi interpreter to a US soldier. The view from the inside of an armoured US Humvee onto the streets of Baghdad on election day. Friends forever. Iraqi boy poses with US soldier who is patrolling the backstreets of Baghdad. Yet another lake of sewage can be seen here in the street, cast out by another broken sewer. Insurgents who tried to blow up a polling station on election day can be seen here being bundled roughly into the back of an Iraqi police car. Acrid, festering sewage water can be seen here rotting in a communal area in a suburban Baghdad are. Children know that to play in such poisonous water could result in death. Iraqi children can be seen here posing with the poster of the candidate that their parents will be voting for. An Iraqi goat joins a US soldier on patrol. Both are standing in the discharge from yet another broken sewer. A Bradley Fighting Vehicle with its rear armoured door open. The son of a US soldier can be seen here in a dusty Humvee.  The soldier told me he really wanted to stay alive to be a dad to his son. Potential insurgents in the cross hairs of a Bradley Fighting Vehicle’s 50 cal. machine gun. This Humvee is kitted out with with loud speakers and public infomation posters and forms part of the US “hearts and minds” operations or “psy-ops”. An Iraqi home owner can be seen here holding the bars to his own gate whilst his home is searched for insurgency materials such as bomb making equipment, by US forces.