A dust storm obscures Firdos Square in central Baghdad. Some officials say Iraq is in the throes of an environmental catastrophe, with more frequent dust storms only the most visible manifestation. (Karim Kadim / Associated Press)
U.S. soldiers walk through dust at Forward Operating Base Warhorse in Baqubah, Iraq. Decades of war and mismanagement, compounded by two years of drought, are transforming what was once the regions most fertile area into a wasteland. (Maya Alleruzzo / Associated Press)
Masks help make the dust a little more bearable in Baghdad. (Hadi Mizban / Associated Press)
An Iraqi man is treated for breathing problems after a dust storm in Baghdad. Even the slightest wind can whip up a pall of dust that lingers for days. (Karim Kadim / Associated Press)
