Hunting for bombs in Mosul

They come across ten or so improvised explosive devices (IEDs) every day and each time they send in their robot Johnny 5 to lay a charge.

The engineers are wary of sniper fire. They shut the door quickly after giving sweets to children.

With all their new counter-insurgency tricks, US commanders here have given themselves until summer to turn Mosul around.

Those injured by IEDs are portrayed as valourous in Washington as part of the fight against al-Qaeda.

Sergeant Johnny Plover of the 3rd Armoured Cavalry Regiment said: "I had an IED go off under my truck, and I was knocked out and separated my shoulder. Six hours later, after the mission, I went back to the CASH, and they checked out the extent of my injuries."

As the war enters its sixth year, officers concede unemployment might be a significant enemy.

Lt Col Bob Molinari of the 3rd Armoured Cavalry Regiment said: "First and foremost we would get rid of unemployment. It is a longer grind as the enemy will not stand up to us.

"American forces will be here as long as necessary to get the job done. I really cant tell how long that is going to be but as long as we can provide assistance and help them improve, we will be there until that mission is complete."

It is a slow process. A dirt wall called a berm is being used in Mosul because it is thought to have helped reduce violence in a nearby city two years ago.

The aim is to encircle the city, forcing all cars to go through 11 checkpoints dotted around it where they can be searched.

But that hasn't stopped some people from simply walking over the wall and passing weaponry across.

Every week locals breaching the berm, so every week it has to be rebuilt.

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