•  LT. AHMED AL-OGEDI
Police lieutenant worries about his country's future but says, "At least I'm alive."

•  DR. SUSAN TAHA AL-JABOURI
A physician, fresh from medical school, learns new and awful lessons as she is thrust into the bloody chaos resulting from war.

•  AHMED KHALIL AL-DUORI
A businessman's bottom line expands, but at a terrible cost. The same conflict that brought customers to his store claimed his brother's life.

•  SUNDUS NAJI AL-SUDANI
A councilwoman, who was once a secretary, comes into her own as a community leader, working with U.S. troops to solve the city's problems.

•  SUAD MOHAMMED AL-OBEIDI
A mother's worst fears are realized when she learns that her son, who was a Sunni, is dead; her new life has its dangers as well.

•  AS'AD MUYIEN AL-KURDI
Wounded at a military checkpoint, he is not bitter and still believes the U.S. invasion was for the best.

•  SHERMEEN H.A. QARALOUSI
A feminist who fits no mold is a Shiite Muslim Kurd who craves contact with the world outside Iraq.

•  LUKMAN KHADER KHOSHNOW
A Kurdish innkeeper rests easier with Saddam gone, even though his business is down.