SUROOSH ALVI: So we're here in Baghdad.
Right down there, that's Firdos Square.
That's where the famous scene took place where Saddam
Hussein's statue was pulled down.
We came here in 2006 when we filmed "Heavy Metal in
Baghdad."
It was a very, very different city then.
It was the height of the insurgency.
It was a war zone, full occupation.
And that occupation is now over.
A year ago, America pulled out their troops.
BARACK OBAMA: Tonight, I am announcing that the American
combat mission in Iraq has ended.
Operation Iraqi Freedom is over.
Last February, I announced a plan that would bring our
combat brigades out of Iraq, while re-doubling our efforts
to strengthen Iraq's security forces and support its
government and people.
That's what we've done.
SUROOSH ALVI: We found it strange that Baghdad is not in
the news at all these days.
What happened?
It was the biggest news story in the world
for almost a decade.
And then overnight, it's over.
So we wanted to come here and see what the effects of this
occupation were.
When the Americans left, prime minister Nouri Al-Malaki
intensified his efforts to consolidate power among the
Shia majority.
This Sunni minority, a group that enjoyed great privilege
under Saddam Hussein, have been marginalized.
Naturally, the Sunnis are not taking this lying down.
-[SPEAKING ARABIC]
SUROOSH ALVI: Massive protests in Sunni areas and a surge of
sectarian killings throughout the country become the new
normal in postwar Iraq.
In 2012 alone, there were more than 1,600 deaths.
Through making "Heavy Metal in Baghdad," we met Waleed, the
original singer of Acrassicauda.
At the time, they were the only metal band in Iraq.
[METAL MUSIC PLAYING]
But shortly after that meeting, Waleed was forced to
flee the country and seek refugee status in the West
after receiving numerous death threats.
With the war officially over, Waleed decided it was time to
return to Iraq.
It would be his first visit home since he left in 2004.
We sent a cameraman to accompany him on this trip and
made plans to meet up with them once we arrived.
-[SPEAKING ARABIC]
[IRAQI MUSIC PLAYING]
WALEED MOUDHAFAR: I don't even know what I'm going to do when
I see my mother.
-[SPEAKING ARABIC]
SUROOSH ALVI: We arrived in Baghdad a few hours after
Waleed and were headed to the guest house
where we'd be staying.
But that's when we ran into the [INAUDIBLE].
They're a group of young punks who are
basically totally insane.
[MOTORCYCLES REVVING]
SUROOSH ALVI: We're with a Baghdadi biker gang.
We were wondering what do kids in Baghdad do for fun.
Well, this is it.
A variety of different styles, kind of this hybrid soccer
player meets Mad Max look, which is my personal favorite.
Then there's this guy, who's got the full on Fox Racing
gear, leather from head to toe.
This guy is riding with his flip flops.
It doesn't seem totally wise.
I worry about that guy.
I'm not sure he's going to survive the day.
So you guys are the [INAUDIBLE].
Are there other gangs in other cities, like Sadr City?
-[SPEAKING ARABIC]
SUROOSH ALVI: So do you ever get in trouble with the cops?
-[SPEAKING ARABIC]
SUROOSH ALVI: Do they chase you?
-[SPEAKING ARABIC]
SUROOSH ALVI: What happened?
-[SPEAKING ARABIC]
[MOTORCYCLES REVVING]
-[SPEAKING ARABIC]
SUROOSH ALVI: Do you guys have more freedom now, or before?
-[SPEAKING ARABIC]
SUROOSH ALVI: Now, that sentiment, a seemingly
contradictory one of wanting freedom but at same time,
missing the rule of Saddam Hussein, was something we
would hear again and again.
And while these guys long for American style liberties--
at least surface level liberties, like, dressing
however the hell you want and acting like a maniac--
it was clear that they would trade it all for the stability
that they enjoyed under Saddam Hussein's
notoriously cruel regime.
-[SPEAKING ARABIC]
-Look at this fucking shit, man.
Have you noticed every street has a check point.
SUROOSH ALVI: Put it down.