quote

i wish i could say something more eloquente. lo q sigue es un fragmento obtenido de aquí.

"Because we can't see out, when the Bradley comes to a stop and the hatch opens the soldiers run out of the vehicle holding their M4s at the ready, prepared to fire. It is an impressive show of force, and we scare some kids. But the rest of the patrol is mellow, and soft-spoken Lt. Rusty Mason talks to the Iraqis in a friendly manner, asking them how they live, where they get food, how many hours of power they have. In return, they offer freshly baked, crunchy flatbread and cold soda. In the house of sheik Nasr al-Taee women offer the soldiers rice and a dish made with okra and tomato sauce. We stand around the kitchen table picking at the food and introducing ourselves to the sheik's numerous children, nephews and nieces. The lieutenant takes off his helmet and lets 12-year-old Thoha try it on. Another soldier rolls up his sleeve to expose, to the girls' amazement, a collage of color tattoos. Another soldier is outside, pushing around a soccer ball with the boys.

"You know," al-Taee finally says to Lt. Mason, "every day I fix curb in front of my house, and the Bradleys break it."

Everyone laughs, uncomfortably.

Then we get back into the Bradleys and drive back to the base, running over curbs and medians, breaking off palm fronds and frightening kids."