Petrel Resources - moderated discussion/research part II

Bahouse - the classical difference between an insurgency and resistance is that the later usually has popular support. The insurgency in Iraq is about political/religious power for which there is little hard consensus and those involved are feared not supported from my sources. Its tempting to believe that there is a coherent resistance in Iraq (if there was I suspect many would support it) but the evidence suggests the equivalent of religious warlords jostling for position. I too follow Blogs but recognise that they can also be(unverifiable) propaganda tools.

The US agenda - given that the financial cost of occupation is prohibitive and politically unpopular - is ultimately about largescale (but not complete) withdrawel. For them to do this there has to be stability. Under Saddam the Sunni's prevailed and hundreds of thousands perished, now they fear for their lot. We all wondered where the repulican guard disappeared to when the US came in, I suspect many are now leading the insurgency assisted by foreign elements. The mass murder of civilians on sectarian grounds is simply about power and the fear of any stability that may render certain groups powerless. The divisions in Iraq that prevailed under Saddam are still very prevalent and there is little hard evidence to the contrary but of course perspectives differ depending on one's own outlook.