You don't understand how scared the average civilian in a guerrilla type war can be. They don't know who to trust either. If the wrong person sees someone speaking to US troops, it can be taken as giving aid and comfort to the occupiers of the homeland. Then they become a casualty.
Read some history of the Struggles in Ireland to understand how things are in areas and neighborhoods considered by the locals to be under occupation by the Brits. Most civilians in these areas where the guerrillas hide out are always afraid of anybody with a weapon. If there is an IED then it is being watched by the bombers. What would you do in their place? You say you have a wife and children. Would you be willing to put them at risk by talking to US troops?