You can sure see a lot of stars here. The lack of big city lights mean that you really can see the constellations, the Milky Way…when was the last time you saw the Milky Way in the states?
But that’s not to say that there isn’t any light here. A lot of sources will tell you that there isn’t enough electricity in Iraq, that places have blackouts and not enough power. As far as I can tell, Iraq looks like any other (okay, third world) country at night. But there are cars in the streets and people going about their day. It really shows how a small minority can ruin an entire country for millions.
To be honest, there are views here that are both sad and beautiful. I was on the grounds of an old Iraqi zoo, animals long gone and ponds and meadows overgrown with weeds. But the statues remain, the palaces and buildings, and you can imagine at one time this place teeming with families and animals.
The sunrises can really be breath taking. Iraq isn’t all desert. Near the rivers, the trees are green and birds are abundant. It’s almost peaceful. Almost.