BAGHDAD, IRAQ- Just as the situation in the rebel-held corners of the war-torn nation seemed to be at its worst, a ray of hope arrived this week in the form of a bold new idea. Iraqi officials knew that to achieve real peace, they would have to find a way to get the rusted, backfire-prone firearms off the streets. So, members of the provisional government took a page from the playbook of America's own fight against urban crime. For a limited time, Iraqi police are asking insurgents to trade in their weapons, ammunition and explosives in exchange for brand new weapons, ammunition, and explosives.

In hot spots all over Iraq, militants and factional fighters of all stripes have lain down their guns, disavowing terrorism and violence at least until they get through the line to pick up their newer, better guns.

Iraqi police Col. Fawzi Mahmoud says the station outside of Sadr City has been overrun with would-be participants. "Honestly, I never expected the program to be this popular. In fact, we're very close to running out of rocket-propelled grenades and AK-47s. We're hoping that the Americans will come through with a new shipment of munitions soon."

Upon receiving their parting gifts, insurgents spent the better part of the evening firing into the air and at random Coalition convoys as they passed by, celebrating their newfound commitment to non-violence.

This "Weapons for Weapons" program, as it is called, sprang from another innovative new plan to solicit input from the populace.

"A lot of people thought the suggestion box was a bad idea when we first introduced it," said Mahmoud. "Let me assure you that they're not smirking now. Actually, they're not smirking because they were all killed in roadside bomb attacks in recent months, but that's beside the point. If they were alive, I'm confident that they would not be smirking about the suggestion box."

The last portion of the Colonel's quote was garbled somewhat by the deafening sound of explosions growing nearer by the minute. Mahmoud explained that this was merely the sound of the program at work.

In a stump speech on Monday, President George W. Bush praised the initiative as an example of how Iraqi quasi-sort-of-kinda-self-rule is turning a corner.

"This is only one small victory," said Bush. "But we see it as a microcosm, a blueprint for how the Iraqi people can lead themselves down the path to civil war better and more effectively than simply relying on the Americans and British to do it for them."

The program has flourished thanks to area mullahs who supported it in spite of their initial skepticism. "At first we thought this was another guns for food program, but we are very much in favor of this," said a lieutenant of rebel cleric Moqtada Al Sadr. "With this new laser sight, I will kill many infidels."

According to organizers, the program has legs beyond a simple exchange of death implements. Other benefits for law enforcement exist as well.

"The really cunning part of the plan is that we now have a list of who's got what," said Mahmoud. "So, now when we get cut down by AK-47 fire, we'll know exactly who just killed us."