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 Just Ask the IraqisPosted on Sep 13, 2007By Marie Cocco WASHINGTON—It’s all about us. This is why the theatrical masterpiece of Gen. David Petraeus’ testimony to Congress coincided with the anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. President Bush always has cast the American invasion and occupation of Iraq as part of the larger war on terror, a logical and supposedly unavoidable step to prevent the next 9/11—or inexplicably, avenge the last. The falsity of the claimed connection was long ago exposed but it resurfaces like an ugly, bloated corpse. What if the hearings had been held in connection with another anniversary—say, that of the 2006 bombing that shattered the Golden Mosque in Samarra, a spectacular provocation that intensified, possibly beyond hope, the sectarianism that tears at Iraq? “This is as 9/11 in the United States,” Adel Abdul Mahdi, a Shiite politician and one of Iraq’s two vice presidents, said at the time. Perhaps we would then ask what Iraqis think of the American military “surge,” ostensibly conducted on their behalf. If we did, we would find that they think it is a failure. Six in 10 Iraqis say security in Iraq overall has worsened since the surge began. That is their grim assessment, according to an extensive national poll conducted jointly by ABC News, the BBC and NHK, a Japanese broadcaster. The survey cannot be said to contain any data from which even the most facile manipulator could make a colorful collection of upbeat charts. The proportion of Iraqis who rate their local security positively—43 percent—is unchanged since March. When asked to assess the surge overall, Iraqis are particularly negative: More than two-thirds of them say the stepped-up U.S. military presence has worsened security, worsened the country’s political dialogue, and worsened the pace of reconstruction and economic development. In Anbar province—held up for the exemplary way in which Americans have suddenly struck tactical security alliances with Sunnis who formerly were our sworn enemies—the outlook is still decidedly glum. Thirty-eight percent of those in Anbar province rated security positively—none had six months ago. Still, nearly half of those in the province identified security as the biggest problem in their lives, and factional fighting in Anbar, the poll analysts said, was reported as being up. A worsening of attitudes in Baghdad, also a focal point of the surge, is apparent. Sixty-eight percent of Baghdad respondents called local security “very bad,” a proportion that is up since March. Resentment against Americans is undiminished, and has reached such levels that 57 percent of Iraqis say that violence against U.S. forces is acceptable, up six points from when the survey was last conducted in March. In February 2004, only 17 percent of Iraqis said they condoned violence against the Americans in their midst. Fear, pessimism and resentment grip the country. Why should it be otherwise? Iraqis do not sense that this war was ever about them. They cannot reconcile their lives of deprivation and destruction with American television reports of administration officials claiming that things are beginning to go much better, thank you. Could there be a more blatant display of indifference to their suffering? For the implacable Bush administration and for the impatient Congress, a single force drives all discussion about Iraq. It has not much to do with Iraqis. Their concerns are the future of the U.S. military, of U.S. prestige, of U.S. access to oil, of broader U.S. strategic interests in the Middle East. Add to the mix the political imperatives that inspire all of them—Bush’s intent to hand over the messy endgame to the next president; lawmakers’ determination to find a path to re-election that guides them safely through this quagmire—and you have a myopia that is bereft of morality. Americans always have believed themselves to be exceptional, set apart from the rest of the world in both triumph and sacrifice. The instinct intensified after the 2001 terrorist attacks that have defined our contemporary politics. It is as though history began, or ended, on that day. The next time that banal question—why do they hate us?—is asked, it would be worth reading this poll of Iraqis, if only to get a glimpse of the answer. Marie Cocco’s e-mail address is mariecocco(at)washpost.com. © 2007, Washington Post Writers Group Previous item: From Fear to Farce Next item: Tear Down That Wall Elsewhere: . CommentsAre you a Truthdig member yet? Login now, or register with Truthdig.
By 1drees, September 14, 2007 at 9:36 pm # who wants to ask IRAQIs anything? the Americans are only used to telling others. they never ask even when they are dead wrong or are completely uninformed .... forget about asking the IRAQIs. The IRAQIs are only born to be killed off by the ignorant American people who are sending their Criminals and their bankrupt young to go there and kill for money so that the personal debts can be payed off, go to utube and litsent to those people tell their reasons for joining the military.
By DennisD, September 14, 2007 at 5:18 pm # “So what if a majority of Iraqis disagree with them?” Well people of Iraq, join the vast majority of American people that disagree with what our government is doing and see what that gets you. Our dictatorship listens to no one.
By chas, September 14, 2007 at 3:59 pm # the writer quoted a poll,, my son is in iraq and his own poll is now where near the writers,, most iraqis are glad that the MARINES are in ramadi and he tells me that there is a 180degree change fm a year ago.. al queda is our and the iraqi enemy and they were the ones who attacked us on 911, in somalia, the phillipines, are attacking our allies of pakistan, israel, england, france, germany, japan, australia and so on.. they want to KILL all infidels.. and that includes everyone on earth,,
By cyrena, September 13, 2007 at 2:43 pm # Greg (#100207) Israeli PM vows to “Wipe Iran off the Map” Ah Greg, please tell me it’s a joke. I was believing it all, (as my eyes grew wider and wider, and my scalp tingled) until I got to the part about Yahweh’s fury...(did he really say that...am I gullible?) And then of course the part about Nancy Pelosi being hospitalized due to extreme botox exposure. It’s perfectly believable (I had to make a trip to the ER myself yesterday, because of a frog bite that I sustained while gradening, and nobody really believes me that the frog bit my finger, despite those puncture marks and the fact that it’s bloated up and blue). So, I’m not suggesting that this might not be the case with Nancy, but only that it’s odd that the juicy details of the hospitalization might actually be released. And...If you’ve been hanging out on a few other threads, and might have taken some tips from Louise (you should read her piece on the “Down To Their Last Billion” thread. It’s very entertaining) then there’s a possibility that the Pelosi and Reid part might be a little added embellishment for entertainment purposes, (I do that myself from time to time, just for personal entertainment value). So, I’m just making sure that Ohmert really did say this...the dirty bastard. Although, it IS perfectly believable, since Israel has been stirring up shit in the region for 60 years, with overwhelming support from the Thugs during the past 7 of those years.
By Dale Headley, September 13, 2007 at 10:15 am # Why would Bush care what Iraqis think? He fully intends that they will eventually be slaves to American companies exploiting Iraqi resources - oil particularly - for many years to come.
By GW=MCHammered, September 13, 2007 at 7:29 am # The Bu$hCo Strategy Uncovered! And Gdubya’s buddies, Communist China, Drug-Lord Mexico and Fundamentalist Middle East Oil Barons all agree that GW’s ‘Just Stay the Course’ works!
By PACRAT, September 13, 2007 at 5:08 am # PUPPET IN ACTION The Petraeus (Greek for “scapegoat") Show didn’t play well in Congress did it? Of course, neither did the Congress part of the charade. We all knew in advance that it was a meaningless presentation of the Bush plan to “stay the curse.” We don’t expect to see much of the general after this. Isn’t that what always happens when a general agrees or disagrees with Bush - did anyone ever tally the “life span” of our generals in Iraq? Add Your Comment |
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Newsroom Carnage Continues at The Washington Post
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