U.S. Unit Walks 'A Fine Line' In Iraqi Capital

"We're just in the area to secure the area, so we're visiting people," said Capt. Andrew Jasso. "There's been a lot of explosions, like on the road here, the bombs."

"No, no, no, no, okay, okay," Ahmed said, motioning toward neighboring houses. "Friend and friend and friend, okay, no problem."

"So this area is pretty good?" Jasso said, sounding dubious. A single bullet hole was visible in the wall above the stairway.

"No problem," Ahmed said.

The lack of an Arabic interpreter -- a chronic problem, the soldiers say -- made communication more difficult. But even when Americans and Iraqis can understand each other, U.S. soldiers said, many Iraqis do not speak openly because they are afraid of being perceived in their neighborhood as collaborating with the Americans.

The Iraqi army major with the English-speaking wife begged the Americans not to reveal his profession to his neighbors, and said he would be risking his life even going outside with them.

"If the people see me with you, they do this," he said, shooting an imaginary gun with his hands. "Okay? Understand? They come and kill me: 'You work with the U.S.A.' "

The American troops took some care to be polite when entering Iraqi homes. During Thursday's six-hour patrol, they handed out Iraqi newspapers and packets of gum and attracted an eager following of young children. But machine-gun-toting Americans rooting through bedrooms, inspecting weapons and demanding identification cards clearly unsettled some residents.

Inside the Iraqi major's house, Jasso tried to put the major's wife and her relatives at ease by telling stories about his two young children. She interrupted him. "Sorry, I have to ask you. Why didn't you just knock at the door? Why did you just jump in?"

A soldier explained to her that the Americans avoid standing in the street in front of houses because of the threat of snipers.

"Just trying not to give everyone a bad impression of Americans is the hardest thing," said Staff Sgt. Andrew McKay, 27. "Being courteous, being nice to the kids, being nice to the families, but still maintaining your military bearing and doing your job -- it's a fine line to walk."

Faced with an often distrustful, frightened populace, members of the task force said they doubted that adding thousands more U.S. troops would change this frustrating dynamic. One soldier, on his second tour in Iraq, said the attitude of the Iraqi civilians toward the Americans continues to deteriorate.