In Their Own Words: Reading the Iraqi Insurgency

If the U.S. hopes to win the war of legitimacy in Iraq, it must better understand the message communicated by Iraq’s armed opposition and why it resonates with its constituents.

International Crisis Group’s Robert Malley and Peter Harling discussed the group’s recent report, "In Their Own Words: Reading the Iraqi Insurgency," which examines the communication methods of Iraqi insurgency groups since mid-2003. Through an exhaustive analysis of web sites, chat rooms, leaflets, magazines and videos, Crisis Group reveals the emergence of an increasingly confident, well-organized and information-savvy armed opposition. The U.S. must take these factors into account if it is to understand the insurgency’s resilience and learn how to counter it.