re: an interesting perspective.
Many of the "demonstrators" were heavily armed black-clad militiamen, a fact conveniently omitted from the Guardian article. The "demonstrators" set fires, cut off roads, and attacked stores and other facilities. Also not noted in the article.
The image you carry away from the article of poor ragged civilians carrying little homemade signs in their trembling hands is exactly the one the author wants you to have.
Do you think the coalition and Iraqi deaths were all due to friendly fire?