Many pundits in the press, and here at the zone have idealized the 'poor iraqi, yearning to be freed by the grat America' to such an extent taht it is just simply dehumanizing.

The Iraqis are a people, with the history of 4,000 years. Folks from the other side of the planet are driving on their streets, in their markets with guns. These same people just blew the hell out of their government and their country. Granted, none of them were too happy with that government, but it was their government. These same people now effectively control the fountains of power. These same people control the food, the water, the electricity and the only thing aside from history that gives Iraq any claim to fame- the oil.

Sure, I'm all for the GI. I hope they do the shooting, and that when the shooting is done, they are the ones that come home.

But are we to belittle the Iraqi person so much that anyone who takes arms against an oiccupying force is a scion of Saddam? A terrorist? A (as bremmer put it this morning) not just a 'saddam dead ender' but a 'Saddam bitter ender' (whatever that means)?

Look, I fully understand the Iraqis wanting us to get the hell out. Suppose next week america was taken over from within by a military putsch, and suppose the russians came to 'liberate' us, and happened to take over everything on the way. Do you think some red-blooded americans would not be taking pot-shots at the russians? Regardless if Right or wrong?

Sure, I'm for my guys. I want to see them come home- but why the hell can't we allow that just possibly The Iraqis are a proud enough and independent enough people to desire to NOT be ruled by a foreign power? Why cant we think of them as patriots? Granted, patriots that are against our boys- but if you can't respect and sympathize with the folks you are occupying, then you should never have supported an occupation in the first place.

The 'Iraqi civilian' is NOT the template which to shape with your political ideology- they are a people and deserve our respect. To turn them inot idealized charicaturizations of your political views is as dehumanizing as humanly possible. Its like the whiteface/blackface black person in old theatrical productions.

Davin L.