IRAQ:In Baghdad, Sam Enriqueztalks to an Iraqi couple whose split opinions reflect a national divide among the country's noncombatants
Hadi Rubaie sat in the living room of his air-conditioned home, with its sofas covered in delicate linen doilies, colourful rugs hanging on the wall and the sound of roosters crowing out the back. He was talking about President Bush preparing Americans for another year of war.
Rubaie has strong opinions. But what you notice first are his hands - the thick, knotted mitts of a car mechanic. He's been working on Mercedes Benz engines since the 1960s, and his knuckles chronicle every slip of the wrench.
"It's good for the Americans to stay," he said. "Otherwise, people will kill each other. Sure, they're doing that now, but it could be worse."
His wife, Umhaider, was in the kitchen preparing a dinner she would serve later, to break the fast for Ramadan: lentil soup, rice, lamb kebabs and yogurt. She too has strong opinions.
"I support the idea of having the foreign troops leave," she said. "Before they came to Baghdad, all the different factions were living peacefully together. Now, there are problems everywhere."
Rubaie (58) heads a traditional Shia Muslim family. He wears a dishdasha, and his wife's gown covers all but her face.
Their split opinions reflect a national divide among the country's noncombatants: those who fear US troops will leave and those afraid they'll stay.
Before the war, Rubaie enjoyed life on top of the mechanics' heap, servicing the most expensive cars in Iraq and welcoming clients of every religious persuasion.
Now, nobody wants to drive their Mercedes anymore, for fear of kidnapping or car-jacking. Mostare exiled to garages, driveways or back yards.
Rubaie thinks he has lost half his business, and a commute that used to take 10 minutes now takes over an hour, with checkpoints and other dangers. He doesn't keep his shop open after 1pm because a full work day means more chances that harm may come to his employees: his oldest son, a brother and two nephews.
His wife's loss is more personal. She dresses in black to show her grief over the loss of a brother, a medical school teacher who was slain by gunmen three years ago.
Do they ever feel it would have been better if the US had never come?
"Yes, sometimes we think that," Rubaie said, answering for the couple. "In 2003, we didn't expect this," he added.
"We thought Americans would get rid of Saddam and things would get better. Before, we didn't have a real government, but we didn't have these mass killings. I don't argue with the US entrance, but with their performance."
Rubaie said he would never join the estimated two million Iraqis who have fled the country. He has three grown children, a 16-year-old son and four grandchildren. His family has lived in Baghdad since the 19th century.
And if he had a chance to speak to President Bush, what would he say?
"First I would tell him, 'Take care of us'," Rubaie said. "We were expecting Iraq to be an imaginary place, with the economy growing and everything.
"We were expecting a lot because the United States is a superpower. But look what's happening. Help us."
Until then, Rubaie knows he must make his own breaks. As he was saying goodbye to guests, he stopped them and said: "I want to show you something."
In his back yard, perched on blocks like a display in a car museum, was a Mercedes-Benz motor. Six cylinders of German-engineered efficiency purred away, driving an electric generator.
The small triumph made him smile. Times have been worse, and times would get better, he said.