The future and legacy of the Green Zone

The Green Zone was established in Baghdad when U.S. troops invaded in 2003, and since then it has come to symbolize much of the American presence, both in Iraq and abroad. It is a fortress, a city within a city, and the headquarters of both American power and the Iraqi government.

Today we take a look at the Green Zone’s future and legacy as American troops continue their withdrawal from Iraq, and whether the Green Zone needs to be dismantled in order for the country to have true sovereignty.

Anthony Shadid, foreign correspondent for The New York Times reports from Iraq. He says the Green Zone has “always represented power in Baghdad… where rulers often lived and worked.” And Hugh Sykes, BBC correspondent in Baghdad describes the difficulties in Baghdad outside the Green Zone and the perception of those who work within the safety of its walls.