Carl, I think you're seriously underestimating how brave it is to oppose the regime by "furtive glances, by pointing to a passage in a book or by their reluctance to launch into an immediate glorification of Hussein". That journalist had a government minder with him, and the Iraqis have lived in a brutal police state for forty years. I just read an account from an Iraqi refugee who remembered that during the Iran-Iraq war a third-grade classmate of hers said, "Iran's not so bad", and then was never seen again. Third-grade!
In short, if the journalist could even see that much, the Iraqis really hate Saddam. Even if they're not crazy about the Americans marching in, who is going to fight for Saddam? I mean, really fight, not look for the first chance to surrender? Only the Tikritis, those who know they will go down with Saddam, I bet, and Saddam can't staff an army out of Tikritis. Our proper worry should be Saddam pulling a Samson, giving the orders to his cousins in Iraq and terrorists outside of Iraq to use the WMDs.
edit: The Iraqis will cheer when we go in. Some will really welcome us, others will seek to please us. Remember that Iraqis are no more free to wish for an American invasion now than they are to oppose Saddam Hussein. |
