AZERBAIJAN 150 troops Azerbaijan is one of three Muslim countries with troops in Iraq. Having sent about 900 soldiers in since 2003, Azerbaijani forces currently number about 150—many of whom are protecting an electricity-generating dam in Iraq's

An Azerbaijani soldier guards the Haditha Dam as contractors work to bring its power generators online

Azerbaijan is one of three Muslim countries with troops in Iraq. Having sent about 900 soldiers in since 2003, Azerbaijani forces currently number about 150—many of whom are protecting an electricity-generating dam in Iraq's violent Al-Anbar province. Azerbaijan is contemplating the desirability of NATO membership, and, far more importantly, wants U.S. support of their grievance with Armenia's occupation of the Nagorno-Karabakh territory (which is in Azerbaijan but populated mostly by Armenians). Earlier this year, Azerbaijani officials angrily implied that their country's involvement in Iraq was about to end after wording in a U.S. State Department report about the dispute was construed to favor the Armenian perspective. U.S. officials, who may value Azerbaijan's oil reserves and strategic location more than its contribution to Iraq, quickly cleared up the misunderstanding.

Bosnian soldiers from a 36-man unit trained in unexploded ordnance removal before their departure to Iraq

Shortly after the 2003 invasion, a top Bosnian Serb leader resigned in the wake of allegations that he had condoned illegal arms sales to Saddam Hussein. But Bosnia-Herzegovina now has 36 de-mining experts in Iraq; the small force includes members from each of the three ethnic groups that fought the bloody civil war that tore the country apart in the early 1990s.

Tony Blair speaks to British soldiers at British Divisional Headquarters in Basra

Britain's full-bore support for the mission in Iraq is well-known. Less-discussed is the fate of the vital city of Basra, where Britain is now reducing its troop commitment by 2,100.

Basra is where most of Iraq's oil is, and therefore the country's future hinges in many ways on who controls Basra's local government institutions and oil facilities. The Iranians seem to recognize this, as the top contenders for control of Basra include several militias that are falling increasingly under Iran's sway.

As the British withdraw, the power struggle between warring militias is certain to escalate, with a distinct advantage going to those who have access to a steady supply of weapons and resources. According to a local intelligence official, "In Basra, Iran has more influence than the government in Baghdad. It is providing the militias with everything from socks to rockets."

Departing Prime Minister Tony Blair explained the idea behind the troop reduction thusly: "There is real progress there and we don't want to get in the way of that progress." But Britain's last-minute decision to pull the plug on Prince Harry's Basra tour suggests the true British assessment may be more in line with the views of an Iraqi law professor, who said, "If the Prophet Muhammad would come to Basra today, he would be killed, because he doesn't have a militia. There is no state of law, the only law is the militia law."