With Iraq I mean? Deaths from ambushes etc. will mount. It is clear that Saddam loyalists still control large parts of the population - everyone is afraid of reprisals and whatnot. Not a word has been said about it, but probably because it is hard to tell a murder as a reprisal from someone killed during a breakin/looting thingy.
I've seen no steps towards making Iraq a democratic nation yet. Granted, there are enormous difficulties and I recognize the huge problems. Yet there seems to not even be a serious dialogue. The temporary Iraqi government thingie was stopped when there was concerns that it'd be another Afghanistan or turn out to be a theocracy.
I just find the lack of any progress disconcerting. The ordinary Iraqi might well support the US going after Saddam, but they're proud people too. Resentment will just grow and grow the longer they're occupied - leading to more and more ambushes.
Me, I think the US must move quickly before the average Iraqi turns against them. As mentioned; huge problems. But as it is, if I don't hear about any progress towards an iraq led by Iraqis, you can bet the average Iraqi ain't either.
This isn't a post critical of the US. More liked comments from a worried friend. You chaps can find yerself in an awful mess if your administration fails to understand the importance of the Iraqi culture and desires for self-rule. I understand that you need a US friendly administration there as you wish to move yer forces from Saudi Arabia (which hardly is a friend of the US anyway), but it seems to me the best way of going about this is ensuring that resentment from the average Iraqi is held at a minimum. Occupation with no noticeable progress towards free elections etc won't help.
Anyone in the know - update me on just what the US policy is with regards to the future of Iraq?