The London Times reports on a public opinion poll that shows Iraqis feeling better off than they did under Saddam, despite their present hardships, and optimistic about security progress. Let's see if you find this poll reported in the MSM.
Meanwhile, Iraq the Model this weekend provides an interpretation of the chemical explosions in Anbar province that probably will escape most MSM consideration, too (click here to read the March 17th post). Al Qaeda increasingly is at war with fellow Sunnis; hence, Al Qaeda's desperate chemical attacks that are less likely to terrorize the populace than to infuriate it.
Increasingly, Iraqi Sunnis (especially the tribes in Anbar province) seem to recognize Al Qaeda as their enemy, a chiefly foreign influence that does not have Iraq's real welfare in mind. Since many Shia have come to a similar conclusion about the Iranians' role in Iraqi violence, a backlash against sectarian warfare may be strengthening among both Sunnis and Shia. The drop in attacks on U.S. forces since the Surge began suggests further that Iraqis have less and less fear that the United States aims to stay on as a permanent occupier. On the contrary, Iraqis daily can watch TV broadcasts from America that show how eager U.S. public opinion is to finish the war in Iraq and bring American troops home.
All of this militates toward development of patriotic feeling in Iraq, support for the current government's policies, implicit acceptance of the Coalition (temporary) presence and anticipation of a non-sectarian future.
Back in Washington, D.C., however, the dominant mood of political opposition to the U.S. role in Iraq is bizarrely distracted and neurotic. Just ask yourself, exactly what does Valerie Plame, the weekend's pathetic peace march against the Pentagon, the U.S. attorney firings or the assorted Congressional resolutions--the stuff that fills the front pages and newscast leads--have to do with the reality in Iraq?
The United States and our Coalition partners, including especially the democratically elected government of Iraq, can prevail against Al Qaeda, on one side, and the Sadrites and Iranians on the other. But that victory will occur only if support for the war can be maintained at least at present levels here. Whether that is possible is now as big an issue as anything going on in the field. The one group that fears the success of American policy and arms as much as Al Qaeda and the current Iranian regime is the American far left.