How To Piss Off The Locals 101...

Because the security situation is so dire, we always have to block the roads and keep all the locals away whenever we check things out. This creates huge traffic snarls. We can't let anyone near us and every Iraqi knows we will shoot first and ask questions later.

The settlement payout for any given Iraqi killed by coalition forces is $1000 to $2500 if the family can show that it was the fault of US forces. This isn't much compensation for your Mom or Dad who caught some lead while being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Often soldiers will spray the area after a sudden explosion or other attack on their unit takes place. This is called "recon by fire".

In the above photo, (CLICK ON IT TO ENLARGE), we stopped rush hour traffic for 20 minutes to check out a strange bag of trash in 110 degree heat. This is a four lane interstate road called Route Pluto running near Sahdr City in Eastern Baghdad. The cars lined up behind us were full of hot and pissed off people but not one would dare approach us. It would be suicidal.