Stephen Harding wrote:

: The "main stream" press gives the impression the US has caused the
: common Iraqi to run out and join the jihad against the US and the
: country is unravaling.

That Iraqi resentment against the occupation is growing is
hardly an observation limited to the "mainstream press":
It has also been made, for example, by the US State
Department. Worse, hostility is growing not only among
the Sunni muslim tribes who ran the country under Saddam,
but also among the Shiite muslims who were oppressed by
Saddam's regime.

: This enterprise can still end up being something
: Americans look back on in 25-30 years with a great
: deal of pride, marking the introduction of democratic
: values to a region sorely in need of them.

Yes, but only if there is a drastic change of course.
Right now the USA is arrogantly presuming that it can
build a new Iraq and that the Iraqis will do well if
they do as they are told. This nanny-state approach
can never work. The only people who can build a better
Iraq are the Iraqis themselves. The USA has to accept
the short term risk, because it is the only approach
which will work in the long term, of relinquishing
the authority of an occupying power ASAP. How would
Americans have reacted if Rochambeau and Lafayette
had decided that they might as well stay and run the
country?

That is not to say, of course, that US forces cannnot
execute the necessary security operations in Iraq,
but they should do so with the authorisation of the
Iraqi government and possibly with Iraqi liaison
officers to help them in showing respect for local
sensitivities.

Emmanuel Gustin