"From bad to worse" is a common phrase Iraqis use when describing what is happening in Iraq. Working here, outside the isolated Green Zone or military bases, we get a different picture from the optimistic depictions released by the US government. I mostly hear from Iraqis that the presence of American military has lowered their quality of life, and set back their progress in building a peaceful and democratic society.

Even from those who say it is necessary for the US military to remain longer in Iraq to prevent greater factional fighting or civil war, we hear despair. They speak of the snail-pace progress in repairing infrastructure, the growing humanitarian crisis, the depressed economic system, and the lack of basic security.

Some brief examples:

—Of the three million residents of Sadr City, a poor area of Baghdad, 72 percent have hepatitis A or E, because of polluted water. In Sadr City we saw trenches dug along the main streets for sewer system repair. According to leaders of Sadr City, this project does not include replacing the cracked and inadequate pipes along the side streets that connect to the people's homes.

—Although more manufactured goods are available in the markets of Iraq's cities, poverty is severe, with an estimated 40 percent unemployment, and increasing malnutrition. Cheaper foreign goods flooding the market and the takeover of Iraqi businesses and oil production by US companies continue to erode the economy.

—Families in Fallujah are slowly starting to rebuild with little help from the US or Iraqi governments. Since the Nov. 2004 attacks, US forces still wage active warfare in many other cities and villages. As of Aug. 14, US and Iraqi forces were surrounding the city of Tellafar, west of Mosul and had used heavy bombs in attacks on the city of Haqlaniyah.

—Iraqi people live in daily fear of explosions and kidnappings by the violent resistance groups as well as violent house raids, indiscriminate roundups, abusive interrogations, and imprisonment by US and Iraqi forces.

—They are also worried about corruption in the new Iraqi government and the brutal violence of the newer Iraqi special police commandos, trained by the US and operating under the Ministry of Interior. Some call this "state terrorism." Iraqis tell us about family members being abducted from their homes, tortured, and sometimes found dead by a roadside. Prisoners' families report paying thousands of dollars to prevent the prisoners from being tortured or forced to give confessions on TV of crimes they did not commit.

Meanwhile, most Iraqis are trying to go on with life as normally as possible, caring for their families. Countless Iraqis try to keep hope alive by working with organizations that foster unity, human rights, and local democratic activity. They worry, however, that all the sacrifices and hardships they have endured will not lead them to a freer and safer life.

—Peggy Gish, a Church of the Brethren member working with Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) in Iraq, wrote this article on Aug. 14. CPT places teams of trained peacemakers in regions of lethal conflict. An initiative of the Historic Peace Churches (Mennonite, Church of the Brethren, and Quaker), CPT enjoys support and membership from a wide range of Christian denominations. See www.cpt.org.