Jeff Leys
Christian Peacemaker Team
Baghdad

Jeff Leys traveled to Iraq before the war with the Iraq Peace Team and is in Iraq now with the Christian Peacemaker Team.

Three long days are coming a conclusion and I can finally grab a little bit of time to reflect on my experiences here in Iraq, rather than simply pounding out a basic email update.

One thing that is particularly striking to me is the air of normalcy with which Iraqi people are going about their everyday lives. It is the same air of normalcy which I experienced while here in February of this year with Voices in the Wilderness. Then it was an air of trying to carry on with their lives even as the US prepared to unleash shock- and-awe upon them. Now it seems to be trying to carry on with life even as the occupation continues without improvements in their material living conditions and as the insurgent war continues. It is an air of normalcy in abnormal times.

I continue to be amazed at the warmth and hospitality of Iraqi people. In my limited time walking the streets here, I’ve not felt any animosity directed towards me nor any hostility directed towards me. Just a couple of examples will suffice in this regard.