Where are the Cheering Crowds?
I am honestly surprised that there are not more Iraqi crowds cheering the entry of the troops, especially into southern Shia areas. My opposition to the war never assumed anything other than that Saddam Hussein was a murderous thug who its population would overwhelmingly be happy to be gone– just that an invasion was the wrong way to encourage that since it would inspire longer-term resentment in Iraq and around the world. But here is a report from the Wall Street Journal, hardly an amen corner for the antiwar movement, detailing the surly population opposing US troops even in what was supposed to be the most friendly parts of the country. Also note that Where is Raed is back blogging with comments on the lack of cheering crowds as well: Wall Street Journal – March 24, 2003 U.S. Troops Aren’t Welcomed By Everyone in Southern Iraq Relief Effort, Aimed at Easing Defiance, Faces Obstacles to Delivering Supplies By YAROSLAV TROFIMOV and NEIL KING JR. Staff Reporters of THE WALL STREET JOU
