BAGHDAD, July 7 — There are two counter-rocket attacks at CPIC today. Yesterday had a couple more. Talk about kick-starting your heart. The warnings—Incoming, incoming, incoming; wheep, wheep, wheep—get taken dead seriously as everyone bolts to a building’s interior. If you’re outside and can’t get to shelter within five seconds, then “lie flat on the ground,” says 1st Lt. Justin Kocher.

Along with the increase in daily strike of indirect fire since I visited Iraq two years ago have come more concrete barriers around buildings and “duck and cover” shelters everywhere. It may feel less safe, but at least the U.S. military is prepared—and this is just the Green Zone. —Leslie Sabbagh