In early 2004 I did a story on the Marsh-arabs of southern Iraq, first immortalised by Wilfred Thesiger in the 50s. During the 90s they were the target of brutal Baathite policies that saw the marsh-lands drained, forcing them to abandon their life-styles and abandon their ancient lifestyles. After the war in 2003 the dams were removed and the marshes restored to their former glory.