NY Times Video Op-Ed: "Meeting Resistance"

[tequila]

The DoD data regarding the number of attacks on CF vs. that on civilians is here (pg 26). According to DoD, attacks on CF have always far outnumbered attacks on civilians and ISF - the difference in casualty rates is that attacks on CF are often unsuccessful due to armor, TTPs, etc.

IMO the DoD stats are probably missing an enormous number of attacks on civilians --- how many victims of such attacks are going to take the trouble to report these to CF or police, especially given that most Iraqis have no confidence in CF and the police are often either complicit, corrupt, or intimidated? But unfortunately that is the best data we have.

The video provides a valuable window to the Sunni nationalist insurgent narrative and shows what these men believe they are defending: a unified nation called Iraq, ruled by men like themselves ("engineers, officers, teachers ... normal people, cultured people ... who follow the prescribed rites of Islam"). That the particular definition of such encompasses a mostly Sunni population and excludes religious Shi'i, Kurds, Christians, etc. is elided. The possibility of a democratic election is rejected out of hand while the occupation is present, and the importance of national and personal honor is emphasized. It is interesting to see the illusions these men have or at least present, and how they match up with similar illusions held or propagated by the Coalition.

The filmmakers have clearly bought into this position and are openly advocating it. It is notable that the latest interview they got in Iraq is from 2004. I wonder how many of these people are still alive and in Iraq.