The resistance in Iraqi against the US occupation is still being described as consisting mostly of foreign Jihadis and Al-Quida supporters, as well as disgruntled Saddam supporters. Therefore, so the reasoning goes, it has little support amongst the Iraqi population. Simultaneously, the Iraqi people are forever intoned as supporting the coalition, with the US/UK coalition working in their interests. The truth is different, as even a secret British military poll, recently revealed, made clear:
The survey was conducted by an Iraqi university research team that, for security reasons, was not told the data it compiled would be used by coalition forces. It reveals:
- Forty-five per cent of Iraqis believe attacks against British and American troops are justified – rising to 65 per cent in the British-controlled Maysan province;
- 82 per cent are “strongly opposed” to the presence of coalition troops;
- less than one per cent of the population believes coalition forces are responsible for any improvement in security;
- 67 per cent of Iraqis feel less secure because of the occupation;
- 43 per cent of Iraqis believe conditions for peace and stability have worsened;
- 72 per cent do not have confidence in the multi-national forces.
News surprising to no-one but the “pro-war left”, I’m sure. Yet still the various news media tend to report about Iraq in terms defined by the occupiers, describing the resistance as Al Queda supporters, or talking about various US activities as being in the interests of the Iraqi people. It just seems there’s this increasing gap between reality and the officially sanctioned version of it, even with people or institutions not beholden to Bush ‘n Blair.