WaPo: US Backed Govt. in Iraq doomed

How's this grab you:

Religious Leaders Ahead in Iraq Poll

According to a US funded poll of Iraqis, it seems that the coming election will likely disappoint BushCo:

"The picture it paints is that, after all the blood and treasure we've spent and despite the [U.S.-led] occupation's democracy efforts, we're in a position now that the moderates would not win if an election were held today," said a U.S. official who requested anonymity because the poll has not been released.

Could it be that democracy is actually what the people want, and not what Bush and his neocon minions want to impose?

Here's something that is news to us (tongue in cheek)

But in another blow, one out of three Iraqis blames the U.S.-led multinational force for Iraq's security problems, slightly more than the 32 percent who blame foreign terrorists, the poll shows. Only 8 percent blame members of the former government.

"We had convinced everyone -- Americans and Iraqis -- that things might change with the return of sovereignty, but, in fact, things went the other way," a congressional staff member said. "What's particularly damning is that the multinational force gets more blame than the terrorists for the problems in Iraq. It's all trending in the wrong way . . . and it's not likely we'll be able to change public sentiment much before the election. "

[my emphasis]

So, were you as convinced as I was that this handover of sovereignty would have accomplished anything?  What planet is this guy from?  This speaks to the "La-La-Landic" BushThought that has permeated US foreign policy since day one.

Looks like another dose of reality is about to be forced down this administration's horrible throat.

ADDENDUM:

Meanwhile, it appears the infrastructure for the election is in place:

From the NYT: U.N. Aide Says Iraqi Elections Are on Target Long story short:

Mr. Valenzuela and Iraqi election officials said these developments marked significant steps toward holding the elections by Jan. 31, the deadline imposed by the Iraqi interim constitution and endorsed by the Americans.

And here's the big honking caveat:

One concern expressed by Mr. Valenzuela, and echoed by many Iraqis, is that the presence of American troops around polling and registration sites could prompt many Iraqis to forgo registering and voting.

Mr. Valenzuela said Iraqi security forces will bear primary responsibility for maintaining security around polling places and the registration sites. The Americans, he said, would do best to stay out of sight.

Ever hear of the Heisenberg uncertainty principle?

•  The poll could be wrong

  Without knowing the wording in arabic, how will we know what was used to distinguish, in the Iraqis' minds, between coalition forces and foreign terrorists?  We in the wset understand that terrorists bomb civilians using cars not airplanes (generally).

  by Cache on Thu Oct 21, 2004 at 09:27:36 PM PDT

  •  Iraqis are not stupid

    This isn't Afghanistan, you know. The problem is the the Arab Psyche and the American Tactics. These are the facts on the ground:
    

    1. Coalition Forces kill 66% of all CIVILIAN deaths
       
    2. Arabs are tribal. Which means foriegners are foriegners. Notice they don't blame Muqtada Al Sadr?
       
    3. Arabs accept "Absolute Control for Absolute Responsibility". This means an Arab will accept you as Boss but you get the entire blame too.
       
    4. Despite being in Iraq for 2 years, the average American still does not understand the basic culture of the locals.

    Add all this together and it makes sense the US would get the blame.

    Aldous.

    by Aldous on Thu Oct 21, 2004 at 10:47:22 PM PDT

    •  Indeed

      You demonstrate that the term 'foreign terrorists', in english at least, applies quite well to coalition forces.

      But what about "Civil War"? We read that it is a grave danger, so we are arming Iraqis to fight Iraqis as a countermeasure?

      by Cache on Fri Oct 22, 2004 at 05:28:22 AM PDT

      •  Stupid Idea

        There is no way the Iraqi Government will survive a Civil War. The Iraqi Army will disband along Tribal and Ethnic Lines. The bad news is nobody has the strength to win. The most likely outcome is a Lebanon-style of unending war.

        Aldous.

        by Aldous on Fri Oct 22, 2004 at 07:23:59 AM PDT