It is hard for the United States to win this battle for the hearts and minds of Sunnis and Shiites when we are seen as the foreign invader and occupier which does not share their religion, language, or customs. It is even more difficult to win those Arab hearts and minds when we are seen as the aggressor and occupier who kills civilians including women and children.
That is a common perception among both Sunnis and now Shiites. Their list of grievances against the American occupiers grows the longer we stay, and anti-American sentiment has become hardened to the point where the majority of Iraqis now support attacks on U.S. and U.K. troops.
Here are TWO of the latest examples:
Iraq town has little faith in U.S. trial of Marines
quote:Residents blame U.S. for deadly attack in Baquba
By Majid Hameed
Reuters Fri Dec 22, 10:42 AM ET
Iraqis in Haditha, where 24 unarmed civilians were killed last year, said on Friday four U.S. Marines charged with their murder should be executed, a penalty they will not face in the United States.
"They should hand them over to us so that we can kill them. They do not deserve a trial," said one young man who refused to give his name.
Khaled Salman, whose sister Asmaa was among 24 people killed in Haditha, gathered with friends in the early hours of Friday to watch television coverage of the charges being announced.
"Those soldiers killed 24 people. They killed women and children, isn't that enough for them be executed? Just so that the family can have peace," said Salman, 41.
"It's a political trial and it will not bring our rights back," said Salman, visibly angry.
quote:
POSTED: 1924 GMT (0324 HKT), December 23, 2006
STORY HIGHLIGHT:
• No one has claimed responsibility for the Baquba rocket attack, official says
• U.S. makes no comment, investigates incident
• 13 people in captivity after Baghdad kidnapping, Iraqi Red Crescent says
BAQUBA, Iraq (CNN) -- Residents in Baquba blamed U.S. troops for a rocket attack that killed six people and wounded six others, including women and children, a Baquba joint coordination center official said Saturday.
Rockets landed on a residential neighborhood Friday, leveling one of the houses and partially damaging several others.
It was not known who attacked the town 37 miles northeast of Baghdad, and no one has claimed responsibility.
The U.S. military declined to comment Saturday but said it was investigating the incident.
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