Reluctant Refugee

Nonetheless, he still believes the U.S. invasion could provide new opportunities for Iraq. "It was good. I'm not just talking about myself. There are a lot of people who like the Americans," he says. And unlike many Iraqis, he is in no hurry for the U.S. troops to leave. Success, in his view, will take what amounts to decades more commitment from Washington. "We hope the Americans do here what they did in Germany and Japan," he says. "I hope they make [long-term] bases here."

As for him, he is not yet ready to move his base back to Iraq. The streets might be safer, but bombings and kidnappings continue and the public services are still miserable. "There is no power, there is no life. There are no jobs," he shrugs. And he can still make more money in Syria. "[In Iraq] you have to have relatives in the government to get contracts." A year ago, he came back for a visit and saw the city in mayhem. This time, he has seen improvement and says maybe in a year he'll return for good. In the meantime, he's gone back to Damascus.

© 2008