Despite the threat of sectarian bloodshed, strong majorities of Iraqis polled say that the US should pick up and get out immediately.

Recently completed polls show that between 65% and 71% of Iraqis favor immediate withdrawal. Although they fear sectarian violence, that fear is outweighed by anger of and hatred towards American soldiers–who Iraqis say have done little to nothing to prevent violence, establish authority, and rebuild essential infrastructure.

Can you really blame them? Nobody wants to live in a country occupied by a foreign power, especially one so utterly unable to secure the peace.

If the Iraqis don’t want us there, if the Iraq occupation is a “cause celebre” for jihadists that is greatly worsening terrorism rather than lessening it, then why do we remain?

When “staying the course” means running the ship into an iceberg and causing it to sink, it is time to drastically change course.

Tags: iraq, national-intelligence-estimate, NIE, poll, terrorism