Like most American soldiers, Birdy sees Iraq as an outsider looking in. His impressions are mostly first impressions—he doesn't have a deep understanding of the country.
They're also visions of a very specific Iraq, the country during wartime. Plenty of times in Sunrise Over Fallujah, Birdy's blown away by the beautiful, open desert land and sky, or the picturesque villages.
But there are also plenty of ruins and destruction from the bombings. And let's not forget that Birdy's visions are constantly clouded by the fear that he could die at any moment. It sounds paranoid but, in his case, it's the truth.
Questions About Visions of Iraq
- How do Birdy's descriptions of landscapes in Iraq warn readers about what's coming?
- What are some ways in which the smaller villages in Iraq differ from Bagdad? How does Iraq differ from Kuwait City?
- What tidbits do we learn about the lifestyles of Iraqis in different places?
- Why does Jonesy compare the level of security on houses in Baghdad to New York City?
Chew on This
The dust storm that happens early in the unit's trip into Iraq symbolizes the war.
As Birdy gets depressed about the war, his descriptions of the landscape grow sadder.