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Once Hailed, Soldiers in Iraq Now Feel Blame at Each Step

KEY EXCERPTS:

"BAGHDAD, Iraq, June 28 — After riding into Iraq on a wave of popular euphoria, American and British forces are unexpectedly finding themselves the brunt of criticism for everything that goes wrong these days."

"Whether battling saboteurs or snipers, American and British occupation leaders find that the public mood has turned critical, even though countless Iraqis remain pleased that Saddam Hussein is gone and still place considerable hope in the Americans and British to improve things."

"The drumbeat of daily attacks on allied soldiers, meanwhile, is forcing military leaders to strike back with measures that often increase anger and fear."

"The tensions seem certain to increase. Attacks on American soldiers, though they do not endanger the overall military plan, have continued steadily for three weeks."

"Meanwhile, Iraq has seen a flood of new newspapers. While some are balanced, and one or two are pro-American, many are plainly hostile."

"And in a separate front-page headline, the newspaper quoted a prominent Shiite leader as saying, 'No Dialogue with the Occupier.'"

COMMENTARY:

So was it worth it? Was the loss of lives worth inheriting a costly responsibility to bring democracy and freedom to a nation where the people themselves lifted not a single finger to liberate themselves? You and I get to pay billions for all of this. Our young men and women our paying for this with their lives. All in pursuit of WMDs that did not exist. All in pursuit of Al Qaeda connections that did not exist. In the meantime, Mr. Hussein and Mr. Bin Laden remain unaccounted for. If these WMDs actually existed, who do you think has them now? Do you feel any safer knowing that this question goes unanswered?