In the early days of Operation Iraqi Freedom Baghdad International Airport (BIAP) was the hub for US activity in the war zone. Saddam’s nearby palace and the Green Zone a half hour east were still being hardened. But despite the hostile red zone I was shocked to find a thriving Burger King already set up at BIAP!

The chow hall at BIAP wasn’t bad. But nonetheless the Burger King was going gangbusters with an assembly line of basic orders for troops who stood in line for as long as it took to get burgers and fries wrapped in that waxy yellow paper. It tasted like home, and at one point the Baghdad Burger King was the third highest grossing BK in the world!