Yon: On Patrol with the Iraqi National Police

Thu, Nov 15, 2007 at 9:15:41 am PST

Michael Yon emailed this photograph from Baghdad, with the following caption:

Soldiers from 2-2 SCR patrol through what months ago were some of the most dangerous streets of all Iraq: South Baghdad. Months ago this likely would have resulted in a serious firefight. Tonight, 14 November 2007, we patrolled with members of the Iraqi National Police. All along the way people were happy to see us. Stores were opening. Kids were playing soccer or following us block after block. Some adults were playing ping-pong here and there, while others welcomed us to talk, including a couple of older Iraqi women who talked on and on and on, until finally the soldiers had to make an excuse to leave. I’ve seen this in many places in Iraq. When the older women get a chance to tell about their neighborhood, they want to tell about the whole neighborhood – on and on and on. Sometimes the soldiers make fake radio calls so they can leave.