I protest.

The real crowds of Iraqis.

While the pulling down of the statue last week was a media photo-op with perhaps a few hundred spectators (including some flown in for the event), Essam Al-Ghalib reports on where the real crowds are, and they're demonstrating against the US: ArabNews: 'No to Saddam, No to US'.

Use the usual grain of salt, but this is just a slightly different perspective on events that have been reported in many places.

Is anyone surprised at this? The tar-baby is beginning to make itself felt.