Eh, who cares what the stupid Iraqis think.

As far as Iraqi elites are concerned, President Bush brought democracy to a land that knew only dictatorship. From Sen. Kerry, however, they hear no commitment to build a liberal state or, for that matter, any state. What they hear instead is a presidential aspirant who complains about "opening firehouses in Baghdad and closing them down in the United States of America," even as his campaign aides dismiss Iraq's prime minister as an American "puppet."

Not surprisingly, surveys by the Iraqi Center for Research and Strategic Studies find that, whereas Mr. Bush garners the most support in the Kurdish north and from Iraq's well-educated urban elites, Mr. Kerry draws his strongest support from what the Center's Sadoun al-Dulame calls Iraq's "hottest places"--hotbeds of resistance to the U.S. A poll taken earlier this month in Baghdad, for example, finds that while President Bush would win a higher tally in New Baghdad's Christian precincts, Sen. Kerry carries Sadr City hands down.

Good golly the Bad Guys like Senator Kerry a lot. Maybe that's what "global legitimacy" means.

Wait, that's exactly what "global legitimacy" means.


UPDATE: To clarify, the "Iraqi Center for Research and Stragic Studies" is that group who was giving us those post-Saddam happiness ratings a few months ago.

And, in case you passed over it, the slice of survey numbers being examined above reflect the feelings of so-called "liberal," or "elite" Iraqis: the literate ones who like freedom--that's all. The original article is addressed to them specifically, not to goat-cart Iraqis; or for that matter Saddam's cousins; or their goat live-ins.

That's kind of the point.

UPDATE: In a true shocker, l'Agence France-Presse focusses on "indifferent" Iraqis, and pines for halcyon days of Saddamite "security."

That's it, we're giving them the Nazis back.

Oh, wait...

UPDATE: Via RightThoughts, a real Iraqi to make the point much better than I can.

Then consider your real friends and allies, those who have stood with you and shed blood with you, and are willing to die for the common cause, whom do they want? Do you have any doubt about their preference?

....

Give the enemy the slap in the face and the great disappointment he deserves. You are the leaders; and all the lovers of freedom and enlightenment everywhere will take heart and charge with you with redoubled zeal, as they see your courage and defiance at the helm.

Go for it America, your friends are holding their breath and waiting, in anticipation, and yes, with anxiousness, and so are your enemies.

Almost makes me wish I were important enough for Oliver Willis to stop by and accuse the speaker of being an agent of the Rove-Goebbels.

One day.

ON THAT NOTE: Fresh comic genius above.