But the situation in southern Iraq is still insecure and the possibility is still high of remnants of the Iraqi Army attacking with the help of other nations such as Syria. The greatest concern for the U.S. Army is suicide bombers.

On Monday, an Iraqi sniper near the U.S. Saints army base near Baghdad shot two U.S. soldiers. On the same day, an Iraqi who was inspected by U.S. soldiers in southern Iraq returned to the checkpoint after an hour and complained that the soldiers had stolen cash from him. The U.S. military has warned that similar incidents may occur again.

With the war coming to an end, my life at Dogwood army base near Baghdad has become more like prison life. Nothing much happens on the base, and even the meetings end with simple routine briefings. I was supposed to accompany the soldiers to a nearby camp on Monday, but that was also canceled. It is becoming embarrassing to be taking around my reporter's notepad with me all the time.

As the news reports shift from war itself to the reconstruction of Iraq, my fellow war correspondents at nearby camps are leaving one by one. I also received orders to return home. But as my departure time approaches, the loneliness and distress I have been restraining surge up. I risked my life reporting on the war. But it was not my war, it was theirs - the United States and Iraq. I could not cheer with the U.S. soldiers on their victory, and I could not cry over the hundreds of Iraqis who died.

I told the 5th Corps Support Command (COSCOM), whom I have been working with since March 7, that it was time for me to return home. Captain Mark Weber said jokingly that I should wait until the United States goes to war with Syria for hiding Hussein's retainers and chemical weapons. I said the Americans have done enough fighting and killing already. Everyone nodded and said it was also time for them to go home.

I recalled moments when I tasted fear - setting up camp while SCUDs flew over my head, and getting lost in the desert. At those times I asked myself what I was doing here. And each time I wanted to flee this war.

But now, packing to leave, I feel a depression that I cannot explain. It rained in the morning today. The rain is probably telling me to hurry home. I will have to finish packing after writing this article. I will be heading for Kuwait City first. I do not know yet whether I will be traveling by helicopter or by car on the road by which I came last month. (Kang In-sun, insun@chosun.com )