You brought up how Iraqis feel about the American troops there and I've been talking to my cousin, a Marine that has done two tours there, the last 4 days. He's here until Tuesday, perhaps longer, because his father just passed away. He's staying here at my house on and off during this period so if you or anyone else would like to ask him a question please feel free to post it and I'll put it too him. I have probably already discussed with him many things you and others may want to know so please ask away.
On the topic of how the Iraqis feel about us, he breaks it down like this:
1/3 like the Americans and support them.
1/3 fear the Americans and would like to avoid them at all costs.
1/3 hate the Americans and would prefer to see them dead or gone.
He gave an explanation of each group as well and said he completely understands why each feels the way they do. He believes they are all 100% justified in their feelings. He also said due to this split, our presence there makes it very difficult to change the situation and that there is no end in sight to our being in Iraq as it stands right now. When 2/3 of the populace either fears or hates you, it is not the best situation. He also feels quite sad about the fact that he sees no way to alter that split as long as we have this major military presence in Iraq. He says the Iraqi people are wonderful warm people but their feelings are understandable because if he puts himself in their shoes he would probably want to kill Americans. There is no way you can watch your family die or be thrown to the ground at a check point and roughed up at gunpoint without anger or fear rising up in you. In Iraq these are daily occurrences. He also said, right or wrong, Americans as long as they are there will be blamed for the violence in Iraq whether it is perpetrated by insurgents or soldiers and the hate and fear will continue to grow.
Also, as a bonus, he says there is no question that the objective in Iraq and the reason they are there, is not WMD's, human rights, terrorists, or Saddam. We are there for the oil, that's an on the ground Marine talking, Dale.
He had me laughing when he told me he can't wait to come back here and buy a Prius to "stick it up the ass of the oil men running this country."
