Check out this Iraq province map from a banner on this SWJ site.

http://www.understandingwar.org/file...ovinces.01.jpg

First, Ninewa and Irbil are incorrect (Makhmour).

Second, Baghdad, which is a province in its own right, is incorrectly shown as a microspec of red, and the actual Baghdad province land shown as a part of each adjacent province.

Third, Salah ad Din province (Tikrit) is north of Baghdad. Can you find the lines that delineate Salah ad Din's southern boundary? I can't. But the best extrapolation would put Taji, a part of Baghdad province, in Salah ad Din.

It is this map, (as repeated by everyone once incorrectly "published") that creates confusion and boundary disputes in the Ad Dujayl area (the portion of southern Salah ad Din that is primarily Shia) in which some would much rather affiliate with Baghdad vs. Sunni Salah ad Din. Note: Until Sadaam created Salah ad Din, all of it was a part of Baghdad province, so there is a lot of bewildering history.

Junk maps that create more confusion than they are worth.

I am increasingly coming to the belief that admin/pol maps in these areas are better provided as a layered power point slide vs. a static map, so they can see it as a dynamic element and understand the realities and issues in these places.