A lot of people from where? Iraq? The Iraqi people don't speak for the whole of the middle east. I guarantee you, for every 5 people that thanked you, there were at least another 5 that wanted you dead. Of course, they are not going to come up and tell you that to your face in the day time. Sure, there are people there that welcomed you...but you are mistaken if you think Iraqi's and Middle East in general welcomes foreign troops on their sovereign soil. Again..we would not put up with it in our country, why should we expect other people to? And yes, some of the people shaking your hand in the day time are plotting to kill you at night.