An Iraqi soldier mans his gun on top of

An Iraqi soldier mans his gun on top of a military armoured vehicle as he watches US soldiers from the 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, securing an area in Baghdad 10 January 2008. American planes rained bombs on Al-Qaeda targets as the US military pursued militants across Iraq a year after President George W. Bush decided to send reinforcements to the country. A 10-minute blitz saw 40,000 pounds (18,000 kilograms) of explosives unleashed on 40 Al-Qaeda targets in Arab Jabour village on the southern outskirts of Baghdad, a military statement said. AFP PHOTO/JEWEL SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images)