Gallery
Iraq's southern marshlands -- drained by Saddam Hussein, who thought it was a refuge for many of his enemies -- were given a lifeline when the U.S. invaded in 2003. But drought, pollution and disputes with Iraq's neighbors are once again threatening the future of marshland communities.
![]("http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/story/image/slideshow_top.gif")
![]("http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/07/23/PH2009072303623.jpg")
![]("http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/story/image/slideshow_bot.gif")
![""]("http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2009/07/24/GR2009072400055.gif")
![""]("http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/article/images/font_resize_small.gif"){kind=small}
![""]("http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/article/images/font_resize_medium.gif"){kind=small}
![""]("http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/article/images/font_resize_large.gif"){kind=small}
![ad_icon]("http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/article/images/advert.gif"){kind=small}