When US troops are looking for "insurgents", they kick down the doors of houses. In neighborhoods, towns and villages. Where Iraqis live. When an insurgent goes out, he or she can go to the store, work, training, whatever. By themselves. And then go home.

When US troops sleep, they sleep in encampments, fortified areas, where Iraqis don't live. It's not safe for them in the communities. When they go out it's in convoys, patrols, armored vehicles, in groups. And then retreat back to their camps.

Now tell me who is popular, and who isn't.

Migawd, Tom, it's elementary, simple and if that can't be understood that CAN explain how we got into this mess.

I repeat. A successful insurgency, and this one is successfull, is only possible if there is popular support. That's doctrine, everyone's doctrine, even the US military. It's common sense.

"The U.S., British and allied occupation forces and the Iraqi security forces are currently engaging in a counter-insurgency operation against various Iraqi guerrilla groups opposed to the presence of foreign troops and the current elected Iraqi government.

"Trinquier suggests three simple principles:

"separate the guerrilla from the population that supports him;
occupy the zones that the guerrillas previously operated from, making them dangerous for him and turning the people against the guerrilla movement; and
coordinate actions over a wide area and for a long enough time that the guerrilla is denied access to the population centers that could support him."

They haven't done that. This insurgency is successful with and because of the support of the people.

Obviously. Gee whiz.