Yusufiyah , south of Baghdad , was among the most dangerous towns in Iraq . Local Sunnis tired of the destruction wrought by Al Qaeda in Iraq . `` Our hope a year ago was to establish very basic inroads down here , '' Kershaw said . They partnered with U.S. forces to keep their town safe . Iraq 's Shiite - dominated central government was wary of such partnerships .
Yusufiyah , south of Baghdad , was among the most dangerous towns in Iraq . Local Sunnis tired of the destruction wrought by Al Qaeda in Iraq . They partnered with U.S. forces to keep their town safe . Iraq 's Shiite - dominated central government was wary of such partnerships .