In March 2007, as part of the troop surge in Iraq, U.S. forces set up three joint security stations in Ghazaliya, one of the most dangerous areas around Baghdad. Attacks throughout Iraq fell sharply. In January 2009, U.S. forces transferred control of Joint Security Station III in Ghazaliya to the Iraqi army as U.S. Army Specialist Anthony Perez and an Iraqi soldier raised the Iraqi flag. AP Images/Karim Kadim.