Chapter 15
0830, 10 June 2004
Uncle Ghazi’s House
Saqlawiyah, Iraq
Haitham Rasheed rubbed his eyes, slowly rolled over on his sleeping mat, and hit his back on a beat-up AK-47 rifle. Haitham and all of the men in the Rasheed family kept next to their sleeping mats what the interim Iraqi Government allowed Iraqis for protection: a rifle with a 20-round magazine. If the Americans found anything more, one could end up in prison.
Haitham carefully descended the unfinished concrete stairs, exited through the side door to the outside sink, filled it with fresh water in preparation for the washing ritual for his morning prayer, and spoke out loud before washing, saying, “In the Name of Allah.” He then returned to his sleeping room, positioned himself, and completed his morning prayer.
The h
