According to The Washington Post the Dora market, one of Baghdad’s largest, and by pre-war standards had over 850 thriving shops, many opened till midnight. Last December Dora was a war-zone for Sunni, Shia and al Qaeda. Now with the help of the surge and setting up numerous barricades known as “gated,” the number of shops are on the rise as much as 300. Because this was Petraeus’ show piece, the military has been handing out to shopkeepers $2500 incentives each to open up for business. Most owners take the money and do business in the morning but close by noon; others simply go through the motion and open to dusty shelves and empty bins because it is still a dangerous place—still lurking in the shadows is al-Sadr’s militia. Nonetheless money talks; maybe they should try this aspect of the surge in New Orleans.