an interesting article about how, despite their public pronouncements, many political groups and states in the middle east want the u.s. to stay in iraq. the article does a pretty good job at outlining why each country in the region (and al qaeda) see the status quo as in their interests. the bottom line is that even though the american presence in iraq is wildly unpopular across the middle east (and world, for that matter), governments secretly fear the uncertainty that would come with a withdrawal, even as they make anti-occupation statements to placate their people.
it also means that the the american presence in iraq is likely to discourage the development of democracy in the region. when a government sees its interest so completely different from the overwhelming sentiment of its populace, there is less incentive for the government to allow the populace to participate in the political process. public opposition to u.s. policy also is a disincentive for the united states to support democracy movements in the region. which is interesting because it's precisely the opposite of the democracy domino theory touted by some conservatives in the run-up to the iraq war.
