There was support by most Iraqis for the removal of Saddam Hussein. But that started to ebb quickly on in the occupation as people watched family members killed, detained, tortured and humiliated by the occupation forces.unfortunately the reports of the unembedded do not reach the mainstream u.s. media because their reporting is viewed as undermining the american war effort. but creating such a huge disconnect between the information the public receives in this country and the rest of the world harms, not helps, u.s. interest in the long run.
Then there was Abu Ghraib. I cannot stress enough how devastating this was to US credibility in Iraq, and the entire Middle East.
Throw on top of that the April siege of Fallujah, nearly complete lack of reconstruction, importation of foreign workers to do jobs Iraqis are far more qualified for, the installation of an illegal interim government, and you have a complete PR disaster for the US here.
Any credibility for the occupiers, and I doubt there was much to speak of, after the destruction of Fallujah has been lost. Iraqis I speak with are infuriated at the US government. While they are well aware that what is most likely the majority of people in the US being in opposition to the Bush regime, they believe the US government and those who support it are guilty of war crimes of the worst kind. I see rage, grief, and the desire for revenge on a daily basis here.
They hate Allawi. They have no respect for him or any other of the puppets in the US-installed interim government, because they don't see how any self-respecting person would allow themselves to be a puppet of the US in this illegal, brutal endeavor.
They are well aware that he is an exile who has been linked with the CIA and British intel for a long, long time. He and the rest of the interim government are views as thieves, rapists and US pawns. They are utterly loathed, as everyone here knows these people do not have the interests of the Iraqi people in mind.
The elections are viewed as a joke. Most here now believe there is no way they can be held in an honest, transparent and truly democratic way. Most are also too afraid to vote. I've heard people say things like, "The Americans won't even allow a legitimate election in their own country, so why would they want to have one here!"
The Iraqi "security" forces, being the police and national guard, are viewed by most as surrogates of the US military. They are viewed as collaborators and traitors by most. While people understand many of these forces join out of desperation because there are no jobs, they remain loathed, along with the foreign occupation forces. It doesn't help when many of the police are actively involved in organized crime.
Lastly, the occupation is viewed as endless. Iraqis know there are already 4 permanent military bases here, and more soldiers coming. There is little hope amongst those I talk with about this topic that the occupation will end.
there's a scene in shame, a novel by salman rushdie that is set against the backdrop of pakistani history, which i keep coming back to. the scene (if i am remembering it correctly) takes place during one of pakistan's wars with india. even though the pakistani military suffers numerous setbacks, the state-controlled media reports only battlefield victories. then one day the pakistani populace is stunned when their government announces its surrender to india. "why would the government surrender when we have never lost a battle?" the people ask. ultimately they turn against the pakistani government for its apparent gross incompetence in giving up a war that they seemed to have in the bag. news reports that whitewash the truth to tell only the official story do no one any favors in the end.
jamail's impressions from the ground in iraq may be found in his blog.
