Popularity means very little in Iraq. What matters is you have weapons and followers who are well paid and dedicated.
Actually, well paid.. As long as they get paid they will remain dedicated..
Also, the privilege of robbing and killing anyone they like..
Actually, that is not true at all. An insurgency depends entirely on popular support (popularity). Without it, the insurgency will fail. It is for this very reason that I believe we will be successful in Iraq; a populace coerced by insurgent violence will only support the insurgency for a limited time.