Occupying dense Baghdad was a bit like occupying Brooklyn and Queens. Residents didn’t like us being there, but they had to get their children off to school, go to work, see their friends. I watched little kids in tidy uniforms play soccer in parks only a mile or so from active helicopter fire. They could see and hear the battle zone, but they were still little kids, just having fun. I imagine they knew it wasn’t ideal, but it was normal.
