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The invasion of Iraq is encountering stiff resistance from its armed forces - and increasingly from its people. They do not want to see control of their homeland passing from Iraqis to the United States and Britain and are prepared to fight to stop that happening, even against huge military odds and despite their hatred for the Saddam Hussein regime. This is the principal lesson to be drawn from the first stage of the war.

Against widespread expectations among Bush administration hardliners, the Iraqi regime has not disintegrated immediately, there have been no spontaneous popular uprisings and military resistance is strengthening, including suicide bombings.