Violence increases during major battles. Many apparently still amazed.
A short distillation of prevailing anti-war positions:
1. When U.S. military is hunkered down waiting, describe our impotence in the face of the "freedom fighter" insurgents. Repeat the phrase "no-go zone" a lot. Show terrorists celebrating victory, and endlessly discuss how no democracy can succeed in Iraq when the insurgency holds these towns.
2. When U.S. military is attacking and defeating insurgents in these towns, wail about civilian deaths, property destruction, how we are alienating every sentient being in this arm of the galaxy, and how there seems to be so much more violence during these battles than before.
Repeat cycle as necessary.